GRAHAM Alexander will be keeping a close eye on potential summer targets in play-off combat.

The League Two shoot-out for the final promotion place opens this afternoon with MK Dons travelling to Crawley. Crewe then host Doncaster in the other semi-final first leg.

Alexander admits he is envious not to be involved after the Bantams finished a point behind the top seven.

But he intends to pay close attention – with possible transfer window activity in mind.

Alexander said: “We’ll be watching on because there are players in some of those teams that we quite like. They are good players and we might be in the market for a couple of individuals.”

His former club MK Dons start favourites after finishing fourth and Doncaster head into the play-offs on a 12-game unbeaten run – which began with a 1-1 draw at Valley Parade in early March.

But Alexander insists the battle will be wide open.

“I’ve been in the play-offs many times as a player and a manager,” added the City boss. “Sometimes form goes out the window.

“It’s about on the day. They are almost cup games in their feel and the atmosphere around it.

“Look what happened last year with Peterborough and Sheffield Wednesday, they were two incredible games.

“But when you were watching the second leg unfold, you’re there thinking, ‘yeah, that’s the play-offs.’ That’s how it is and you get used to them.

“It could be anybody who wins it.

“But I’ll be honest and say there’s a massive tinge of jealousy watching them.

“I’ve said before, it just extends the pain that we felt at the end of the season by not making it.

“But we believe that when we come back, we will be good enough to compete with the teams at that level.”

City are set to announce full details of their pre-season programme in the coming week. The squad have already been briefed about the timings and matches involved.

“We’ve been through it with the players and it’s all in place,” said Alexander.

“We’ve had it in our minds for a while but we’ve been waiting for the end of the season.

“Obviously, we were hoping that would be extended with the play-offs and that might have changed the look of the off-season and our pre-season plans.

“But it can stay pretty much the same and we’ve let all the players know what that looks like.

“We’ve got all bar one fixture date (finalised) so the supporters will know pretty soon.

“We’ve been doing that for maybe six to eight weeks and making contact calls with clubs. We’re really pleased with the progress we’ve made and we’re looking forward to it.”

The early finish to the EFL programme because of the approaching Euros has given the players more time off than before.

City’s season finished on May 20 last year with the play-off defeat at Carlisle – 23 days later than they ended the current campaign against Newport.

Alexander said: “There are no excuses. We’ve got a really significant break for the players.

“They are going to get the time to put their feet up as well as doing the off-season programme. Then we’re going to have a full and proper pre-season.

“We need to make sure we hit the ground running when the season starts.”