Albion, who overcame black country neighbours Wolves in the semi-finals, will have enjoyed a 12-day break from action by the time referee Graham Poll blows for kick-off at three o'clock on Monday afternoon.
Mowbray confessed by then the game would be long overdue. "Twelve days is a long time to prepare for one match and so our trip to Wembley in the week was counted as a day off for us really. Instead of training and training, the trip to the stadium was a different type of diversion for the players who are all well aware of what is at stake - the game is a cup final for us but with promotion to the Premiership as a prize. It has also been billed as the most lucrative game in the history of football, but we cannot allow considerations like that to affect our preparations which have been the same as they would be for any other game. However, the fact is the money at stake is massive and I think there is probably a discussion to be had and points to be made about the gulf in money between the Premiership and the Championship. That debate is for another time though - my job, and the job of my players, is to win that football match."