South Africa takes on Mexico in the World Cup opener on Friday knowing that its performance is likely to be crucial in deciding whether home fans will be following Bafana Bafana past the first round for the first time.
Victory in front of the raucous home support at Soccer City could provide the momentum necessary to take the tournament host past subsequent matches with Uruguay and France and into the second round for the first time. But a bad defeat could critically dent team morale ahead of meetings with what are arguably the two toughest group opponents.
A good performance is the least that the vuvuzela-blowing South Africa fans will be demanding from players who are on a 12-match unbeaten run after being no-hopers just a year ago.
Victories over Denmark and Colombia have given coach Carlos Alberto Parreira's team real hope of making an impact at the first World Cup to be held in Africa.
"I think the team showed that we are ready for the World Cup," said Parreira, who led his native Brazil to the 1994 title. "The team is ready and they proved it against Denmark. With our preparations, it shows that the path we took was the right one.
"What will happen at the World Cup we don't know, but the team is ready."
With Parreira having left South Africa record scorer Benni McCarthy out of the squad because of concerns over his form and fitness, Katlego Mphela and Bernard Parker are likely to pair up in attack to convert the ammunition supplied by star midfielder Stephen Pienaar.
Captain Aaron Mokoena will be tasked with disrupting Mexico's neat passing game, which will likely go through playmaker Giovani Dos Santos in a deep attacking role.
But South Africa's biggest weapon in this tournament could well be its noisy and enthusiastic support.
Plenty of players complained about the noise of the vuvuzela horns at last year's Confederations Cup warmup event and, if the Mexicans can't concentrate on their game, then the hosts could well start their campaign with a victory.
"Everybody has to respect us. We are ready to fight. We will take every game as a final. We will fight in every game," said Parreira, who added that his team was inspired by a meeting with Nelson Mandela during the run-up to the World Cup.
"He didn't make any speech, but his presence is so inspiring for the team and the country. It was so emotional to see him there and everyone was so happy. I'm sure it helps the team a lot when we play."
But Mexico is also in form, having beaten World Cup holder Italy 2-1 in winning eight of its 12 warmup games.
Mexico has been to the World Cup 13 times and hosted it twice but is far from a powerhouse team and goes into Friday's game with doubts about who will lead the attack.
The experienced Guillermo Franco has recovered from a right foot injury and is fit to play, so coach Javier Aguirre has to decide whether to start him or go for the 22-year-old Javier Hernandez, who has scored three times in Mexico's last four games and is headed for Manchester United.
"I think that all of us have the same opportunities to play," Franco said. "It's his (Aguirre's) decision. For me, the most important thing at the moment is that I'm fine, and if he decides that I should play, I'm ready."
Aquirre has plenty of experience in his side, including Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez.
"In this World Cup, youth and experience are blending together," Franco said. "We're prepared and motivated to have a great World Cup."
