Steve Bruce has admitted that he "would be delighted" to reclaim his promotion record outright from Neil Warnock by guiding Aston Villa to the Premier League.

The 57-year-old is preparing his side for Saturday afternoon's Championship playoff final against Fulham at Wembley Stadium, having missed out on a top-two finish to Warnock's Cardiff City.

Promotion for Warnock was his fourth to the top tier of English football - the same number as Bruce, who has previously taken up Hull City and Birmingham City on two separate occasions each.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, the experienced boss said: "[Neil's] been around the block a bit! I was the first to wish him well because it was quite a remarkable achievement, but he's caught up with me again. Next year he can't get promoted though, unless something weird and wonderful happens.

"I'm happy for him that he's had the enthusiasm to get Cardiff promoted at his age. But of course I want to beat him! If I can make it five I'd be delighted. I hope it can help the players and the staff. I won't sit here and say that I'm not going to feel some butterflies on the day but, like everything in life, if you've already experienced something then you know how to handle it better.

"Make no mistake about it, though, however many times you've done it it's still a wonderful occasion and the reason you're in football is for days like this. I've said many times in big games like this you can smell the hot dogs a little bit, that's what Archie Knox used to say all those years ago and nothing has changed.

"Hopefully we can put a smile back on the faces of Aston Villa fans for a change because for five or six year it's been pretty desperate at times. Let's hope it's our turn again."

Half of Bruce's previous promotions have come via the end-of-season playoffs.