If Pool want their crowd capacity to exceed that figure on a regular basis they must find the cash for improved facilities, such as road links, around the ground.

However, the council have waived the condition for Sunday's game because they are as keen as anyone else for Pool to get the result they need to secure a play-off place – and the more people cheering Holloway's side the better.

"There isn't a planning restriction on the capacity of Bloomfield Road. However, when it exceeds 12,000 people they are required to financially contribute to improving the roads in the surrounding area," said Steve Weaver, chief executive of Blackpool Council.

"I'm aware that the club has a crucial match this weekend and after a discussion with Karl Oyston, I've agreed for the condition to be waived on this occasion.

"Everyone wants to see the team do well and I hope they have a successful weekend with a strong home crowd behind them."

The Seasiders have thanked the council for their help but segregation issues in the east stand mean that there are no guarantees the attendance will break the 12,000 barrier.

"If every single seat in the north, west and south stands and every wheelchair bay and wheelchair helper seat are taken, and Bristol City sell all their 1200 tickets with the wheelchairs and the helpers we would have an attendance on Saturday of 12,251 - and we are grateful to the council for allowing us that," said Blackpool secretary Matt Williams.

"Unfortunately we can't have paying Blackpool fans in the east stand because of segregation issues. We can't split that stand at the moment for home fans and visiting supporters.

"What the council's decision has enabled us to do is to allow our youth team, our girls football team, the programme sellers, the turnstile operators and the people that work in the shop and the ticket office to watch the game from a block of seats in the east stand.

"It has also given us a small number of tickets that we've been able to sell to people who were on a reserve list.

"We have worked closely with Dave Clark from the council and he has been fantastic and the council have been great.

"Obviously moving forward fingers crossed if we get the right result on Sunday we will be asking them to support us for the next game."

Explaining why Bristol City fans were only given 1,200 tickets in the east stand, Williams added: "You have to give visiting supporters 2,000 tickets or 10 per cent, whichever is the smaller figure.

"So in Newcastle's case for example, 10 per cent of the capacity would be 5,000 but they gave us 2,700 which is more than the minimum requirement.

"Obviously the more we increase our capacity the more tickets we have to give to the opposition fans."

The opening of the Jimmy Armfield south stand has increased the capacity at Bloomfield Road to 12,555.

Bristol City are expected to sell their allocation of 1,200 tickets. Sunday's showdown cannot come quickly enough for Holloway.

"I can't wait and I wish I could fast forward and start the game now," said the boss.

"But in the time between now and kick-off I am going to make sure everyone knows their role, knows their job and is absolutely focused on that – because we can only let people down if we are not focused.

"I believe we will have failed now if we don't get in the play-offs, and that is a totally different thing.

"Can we actually go into this game, knowing that, and win? It's a different challenge so I am looking forward to seeing if we are good enough to deal with it.

"Let's see if our application can be good enough under the biggest pressure that any of my players have ever had.

"But if we do get to the play-offs it will probably be the lowest budget that has ever got there in history, so well done to the lads – it shows the scale of their achievements so far and how magnificent they've been all season."

Aside from Hameur Bouazza – still receiving treatment for a groin problem – Pool have no injury worries heading into the final game.

DJ Campbell has shaken off an illness and trained today.

The only cause for concern is Charlie Adam's 14 bookings – one away from a three-game suspension, which would carry into the play-offs.

FOR A FULL PREVIEW OF SUNDAY'S GAME SEE FRIDAY'S GAZETTE.