The draws have been kind, other results have gone for us and Unai seems focused on this one – compare and contrast the teams he’s picked and how they’ve played in every other cup competition, and this season in the FA Cup. Equally importantly we’re running into a bit of form and the injuries are clearing up.

And that’s why it’s so nerve-wracking. Never mind ‘Prepared’, our motto should be ‘It’s bound to go wrong’, which in a self-fulfilling prophecy kind of way is why is often does. But this time’s different. No, honestly it is. We’ve got the best manager in the country, some of the best players and more strength in depth than we’ve ever had. Whatever the team is, it’ll have top quality throughout and a few more potential match-winners on the bench.

We’re playing Preston. They’re mid-table in the Championship, with little chance of going down and even less of getting into the play-offs. It seems as though they’ve been in that position forever. Doubtless the local paper has been running stories all week, the local butcher’s is offering a year’s supply of steak if they win and the mayor will be in the directors box. That’s the magic of the cup.

Brian Godfrey and Tony Morley played for them, their manager has got the most northern name in football, the eternally repulsive Ched Evans is still on their books and they’ve got Kaine Kesler Hayden on loan, although he can’t play today because it’s against the rules and not because Unai’s being cruel. They’ll be up for it and I don’t doubt we will be as well.