Villa win a second corner of the game and though it comes to nothing, West Brom are unable to effectively clear their lines.

The visitors have the Baggies penned in a tad, but haven't come close to creating anything.

Image source, Rex Features

One West Brom wing-back crosses to another, and as Mason Holgate looks to surge into the area the ball appears to ping off the arm of Villa's Anwar El Ghazi.

Enough for a penalty? Possibly, but not definitely.

Baggies players appeal but nothing is given.

A meaty coming-together between West Brom's Stefan Johansen and Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane in the centre of the park.

Neither side giving an inch, but the energy levels are higher than the quality levels so far.

West Brom get into the visiting penalty area for the first time thanks to Mason Holgate's long throw.

It's headed clear and Jacob Murphy's long-range effort is blocked by a Villa defender.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at The Hawthorns

If you thought Villa Park was noisy on Saturday, Albion's fans have taken it to a new level. Almost deafening.

They have a ridiculously loud PA system here and the Albion fans thankfully all but drowned it out.

If matches were won on decibel level alone, Albion are already in the final!!!

Image source, Getty Images

Anwar El Ghazi wins a corner for Aston Villa in the opening 40 seconds, with Mason Holgate making the tackle.

The hosts defend it but Villa remain in the attacking third with a throw-in.

We're off and running, and I reckon the opening minutes are going to be played at quite some pace...

Given the noise and what's at stake, it's impossible NOT to be up for this one.

All the Villa players are sipping away on bottles of water in the tunnel - got to keep hydrated, it's all about that extra 1%...

I know we always say this but the sound at The Hawthorns really is special as the teams come onto the pitch.

Game faces are well and truly on.

BBC WM Sport

If you're in the West Midlands area, you can listen to live coverage of tonight's game on BBC WM 95.6.

Unfortunately a rights issue prevents us from streaming EFL commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at The Hawthorns

Hope that’s not the white flags of surrender that the home fans are waving at The Hawthorns?!!!

Definitely not - there are some blue ones too. Or more turquoise to be honest. All arranged very neatly in stripes.

They’ve given this some thought!

Image source, BBC Sport

And those flags are creating quite a sight as kick-off approaches...

Image source, PA

If West Brom's task of overturning a first-leg deficit wasn't difficult enough they have to do it without their 24-goal top scorer Dwight Gayle, who's suspended after his red card in the first leg.

The Baggies have just a 33% win rate without Gayle in all competitions this season compared to a 54% win rate with him in the side, but caretaker boss Jimmy Shan is confident others can step up.

"We've got Jay [Rodriguez] who can play centrally and down the middle and he's a big goal threat as well," he told BBC WM 95.6.

"What it does present is that the lads waiting in the wing have an opportunity to perform and be a hero.

"We've got some wonderful attacking options and players and we may have to tweak how we play on the pitch."

The stat people make Aston Villa strong favourites to make it to Wembley, with our friends at Gracenote giving them a 67.9% chance of making it through.

In fact of the last 18 sides to win the first leg of a Championship play-off semi-final, 16 have reached the final - the only exceptions being Derby last season (v Fulham) and Leicester in 2012-13 (v Watford).

But football isn't played on paper and West Brom fans will be keen to point out they've won all five of their home games under caretaker boss Jimmy Shan.

Image source, Gracenote

Former West Brom and Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips on BBC Radio 5 live:

"It’s going to be a cracking atmosphere.

"The game is finely poised. I’m intrigued to see how West Brom start the game this evening. They’ll need to start on the front foot.

"It’s always a blow to lose your top goalscorer, but it’s a chance for someone to make themselves a hero. Can Rodriguez step up? Can Murphy perform tonight? They have got players who can score goals."

Image source, PA

While Aston Villa were behind until the last 15 minutes of Saturday's first leg, they dominated West Brom in the possession, shots and corners stakes.

Despite that Villa manager Dean Smith expects the Baggies to play an open game at The Hawthorns tonight.

"I don't think their [West Brom] supporters will accept them sitting behind the ball. I'd expect them to be a little more open," he told BBC WM 95.6.

"There's different ways you can approach the game, but my approach is to try and win. If we win, we're through.

"The players will know from me and the staff that nothing is over. We've got to go there and put in a really good performance."

Image source, Reuters

Darren Moore says his sacking as West Brom boss in March will prove to be the "right decision" if they gain promotion to the Premier League.

The Baggies were fourth and nine points off the automatic promotion places when he left, with the club finishing the regular season in exactly the same position.

"It’s good to see that work you’ve started continue to a point, and that’s why I’m rooting for them [West Brom] to do well this evening," Moore told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The chapter is closed there for me, but I can still wish the boys well.

"Getting up in the Premier League is where the club wants to be. If they go up, it [changing managers] was the right decision for all connected."

It's a beautiful night for it... the sun is shining brightly at The Hawthorns.

Image source, BBC Sport

First-leg scorer Conor Hourihane is rewarded with a start as one of two Aston Villa changes - with Andre Green also coming in.

Glenn Whelan and Albert Adomah are the two to drop to the bench.

Aston Villa XI: Steer; Elmohamady, Tuanzebe, Mings, Taylor; Hourihane, McGinn, Grealish; Green, El Ghazi, Abraham.

Subs: Kalinic, Hause, Jedinak, Whelan, Adomah, Kodjia, Davis.

Image source, PA

Let's keep it simple - West Brom or Aston Villa, who will make it to Wembley?

It's Villa with the aggregate lead but the Baggies with home advantage - and remember there's no away goals rule in the EFL play-offs.

Use #bbcefl on social media for your predictions (and reasoning).

Baggies caretaker boss Jimmy Shan makes one enforced change, bringing in Jacob Murphy for the suspended Dwight Gayle.

Jay Rodriguez will assume the main striker role.

West Brom XI: Johnstone; Holgate, Dawson, Bartley, Hegazi, Gibbs; Phillips, Brunt (c), Johansen, Murphy; Rodriguez.

Subs: Bond, Townsend, Adarabioyo, Morrison, Leko, Harper, Montero.

Image source, Rex Features

For much of Saturday's first leg it seemed West Brom might complete a smash-and-grab away victory at Aston Villa.

Dwight Gayle capitalised on a Glenn Whelan error to put the Baggies ahead, but Villa struck twice inside three second-half minutes - through Conor Hourihane's brilliant 25-yard shot and a Tammy Abraham penalty - to swing the pendulum in their favour.

West Brom's task got bigger when their top scorer Gayle was given a second yellow card for sliding in late on Villa keeper Jed Steer, putting him out of tonight's second leg.