Arbroath chairman John Christison is counting the minutes until the whistle blows on the club’s cup tie with Rangers.
Tickets have been sold, TV gantries built, terraces swept and weather forecasts (repeatedly) checked, as the Red Lichties prepare to welcome the Glasgow giants to Gayfield on Sunday.
More than 5,700 expectant supporters will pack into the small coastal ground, with the maroon and white contingent hoping for a repeat of 1974, when goals from John Fletcher and Billy Pirie secured the club’s last victory over the Light Blues.
For those not lucky enough to be in Gayfield, Sky Sports will be transmitting live from the ground to screens across the globe.
Mr Christison said the prospect of the stadium packed out for a clash against the Scottish champions had proved mouth-watering for everyone at the club.
“For some of the players it could be their only chance of playing on live TV,” he said. ”That might not come round again. It is not just people in Scotland who will be watching this goes out around Europe and worldwide.
”It must be quite a daunting thought, but then playing in front of nearly 6,000 is going to be a great experience for them too.
”The SPL are talking about bringing back standing areas and a lot of people reckon the fans love being able to stand at games. This will give a taste of the atmosphere.”
Arbroath stand to benefit from an £82,000 pay day following the encounter and club officials gained permission to extend the capacity of the ground ahead of the Scottish Cup fixture.
”Tickets have gone very well,” said Mr Christison. ”We only have about 150 left so, looking on the positive side, that is over 5,700 tickets sold.
”I’m sure there will be quite a few local Rangers supporters in the Arbroath end and I must admit there has been a real buzz this time even more so than in 2003.”
He added: ”Everybody is worried about the weather but looking at the forecast it doesn’t seem that we are going to get much frost and the winds should have died down by then.”
More than a dozen cameras will cover the match from specially constructed scaffolding points around the walls surrounding the pitch.
Rangers fans are expected to arrive early by bus, ahead of the lunchtime kick-off. Some are planning to stay in Arbroath on Saturday night.
Mr Christison said: ”It is huge for us. We are the same as any other club in Scotland and this will provide us financial stability for this season and next.
”All I want to do is get to quarter to one on Sunday, get sat down and be able to stop worrying about the weather and the organisation side of it. If we can sneak a wee draw and get a return leg at Ibrox then that would be ideal.”
Police have asked fans from both clubs to arrive in good time to prevent delays at the turnstiles, with gates open from 11.45am. They also issued a stern warning that supporters will be segregated and that anyone found in the wrong end will be ejected.
Arbroath supporters are being advised that the normal parking areas to the east of Gayfield Park at Ladyloan will only be available to disabled drivers.