Robbie Keane's young career with Inter Milan arrives at its first D-Day when the Irishman makes his San Siro debut tonight in a Champions League preliminary leg, return tie with Swedish side Helsingborg.
Inter go into the tie on a 1-0 losing scoreline following the first leg two weeks ago in Sweden, and clearly face a delicate task in ensuring their qualification for the Champions League proper.
Inter coach Marcello Lippi is likely to field the same attack as that which started against Helsingborg in the first leg, namely Keane alongside Turkish acquisition Hakan Sukur. With long-term injury victims Ronaldo and Christian Vieri still ruled out, and with Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba and Chilean Ivan Zamorano recovering from recent knocks, Keane seems certain to play tonight.
"I know that this will be a difficult game, a decisive one, but it simply depends on us," said Keane earlier this week.
"To be eliminated at this stage would be a disaster from every point of view, but at the moment I'm not thinking negative thoughts. I'm just thinking about playing and winning. We have every chance. If we maintain our concentration, then we'll win."
Following the first leg, an opinion poll among fans on Inter's website (www.inter.it) named Keane as by far the best player in the match. Tonight, as then, he will be partnered by Sukur.
"I can play fine alongside Sukur, but also with anyone else. However, it's true that Sukur is the player with whom I've trained most in my first weeks at Inter and we understand one another well because he speaks good English," said Keane.
The Dubliner and the rest of the Inter side are likely to face a frustrating time against a fitter Helsingborg side, currently midway through their season and expected to line out with a defensive 4-5-1 formation. Helsingborg coach Nanne Bergstrand is cautiously confident.
"Inter are still the favourites in my book but the first leg result could prove vital for us, especially if we managed to score a goal here. We will, of course, try to be very concentrated on our defence, but our attitude will be determined by how the match develops in the first 20 minutes."
Luigi Di Biagio may replace Cristiano Brocchi in the Inter midfield, playing alongside Vladimir Jugovic, Benoit Cauet and Andrea Pirlo. In defence, French veteran Laurent Blanc will be partnered by compatriot Cyril Domoraud, Colombian Ivan Cordoba and either Croat Dario Simic or Matteo Ferrari.
Given that the Italian Serie A season does not begin until October 1st, Inter cannot be expected to be fully wound up, but Lippi is hopeful that his side will prove a deal sharper than two weeks ago when lack of match fitness cost Inter dear.
Keane agrees. "In Sweden two weeks ago they were useful in midfield and defence because they are a physically strong side. I was quite impressed by them, but we're a better side."
Tonight, Inter had better prove Keane right.
