Mick McCarthy is confident ahead of Monday night's crunch Euro 2020 qualifier against Denmark at the Aviva Stadium.
Speaking to reporters Abbotstown for the final time before the date with the Danes, McCarthy didn't hide his excitement as he puts the finishing touches to his preparations.
"I've woken up this morning with butterflies, the day before the big game, I'm please about that to be honest with you.
"It's a nice feeling getting ready for a game, you know the big game is coming now, this is the last part of the preparation, I enjoy that feeling."
The mathematics of Monday night are simple. A win of any kind and Ireland automatically qualify for next summer's finals.
The gravity of the game is far from simple though.
With the arrangement that McCarthy has with the FAI, whereby Stephen Kenny takes charge of the Republic of Ireland senior squad once Irish involvement with the 2020 tournament is over, tomorrow night could clearly map out his future over the next year.
McCarthy was relaxed though speaking about the game and doesn't seem to be allowing the weight of the occasion and expectation get to him.
"It's the one that you're playing in that's the biggest one so I guess this is it but I hope I'll have a bigger one in July and bigger games in the European Championships."
Ireland are of course no strangers to Denmark.
This game will mark the side's sixth meeting in the last two years with the 5-1 thrashing almost two years ago to the day still fresh in many fan's memories.
McCarthy though isn't worried about the idea that they know each other too well at this stage.
"This is only my second game [against Denmark].
"I thoroughly enjoyed the first game in Copenhagen, I thought it was a really good game.
"I thought Denmark shaded it for most of the game but towards the end we could have shaded it.
"It was a great game, I'm looking forward to tomorrow night.
"I guess the only surprise to everyone tomorrow will be if we win
"It appears to me [an Irish win would be a surprise] with the feeling behind it.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise to me."
Ireland are guaranteed a place in next year's play-offs via the Nations League so a loss tomorrow night would not mark the end of the road for this team and this campaign.
There is a major cup-final feel about the fixture though and there has been much discussion about drawing a big performance out of this side.
McCarthy though is adamant that long-term preparations are what will stand to his side.
"It's on a daily basis, all the time speaking to the players, the work that we do, the stuff that we show them, the interaction that we have with them is what creates the atmosphere that we get big performances out of them.
"They're all looking forward to the full-house and a game that means so much to them and their country.
"Sometimes you might have to calm people down rather than wind them up."
"I believe it's about time we did [beat Denmark], that's the mentality I try to instill into everybody else.
"Just because it hasn't happened before doesn't mean it's not going to happen again.
"Results happen, results happen for a reason.
"Whether it's us being more motivated, fancy the game more or stop your team playing.
"If I don't believe it I might as well go home and I'm not going home anytime soon."
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