As the elder statesman in Ayr United’s dressing room, Michael Moffat knows his role this week is key.
The veteran striker, who last season bagged his 100th goal in the black and white, must lead from the front.
With a clutch of new faces and youngsters yet to taste an Ayrshire derby, Somerset legend Moff has been tasked with laying things on the line to his team-mates.
And it’s a role the usually quiet man of the dressing room is relishing.
He told the Ayrshire Post: “There’s a proper buzz now that we’re in the build up to the game.
“The lads are going to be left in no doubt just what this game means to the fans and the area.
“I’ll be telling them...you are one game from being a hero.
“Win this and the fans will love you forever.”
Moffat added: “I think the Ayrshire derby is right up there when it comes to special games in Scotland.
“Obviously you’ve got your Celtic-Rangers in terms of size, but after that I’d have Ayr-Killie up there with the likes of Hearts-Hibs.
“It really is that big and is a proper old-fashioned derby where both sets of fans just don’t like each other.
“It shows how the league are thinking that they’ve put this game on first and it’s live on the telly.
“Hopefully we can go and put on a real show for everyone.”
Moffat, 36, is currently fighting back from his own health scare after contracting Covid at the start of Ayr’s Premier Sports Cup campaign.
Back on the road to fitness, he expects to be right in the mix for Monday’s trip to Rugby Park.
But he said: “It really was a scary experience.
“Just walking down the stairs and sitting outside with my kids for 10 minutes was a huge challenge.
“The energy just drained from me and it floored me for a good few days.
“I felt terrible at the time but thankfully I’m over it now and looking forward to getting back playing.”
Moffat and his Ayr side will head into the lion’s den without the backing of any Ayr supporters.
But he insists they can use that to their advantage.
He said: “The game would be far better for having our fans in there because the atmosphere would be a lot better.
“And I think it would definitely give us a lift to have them there.
“But at the same time, it will add to that underdog feeling and we’ll want to go out there and prove a point.
“We certainly won’t be intimidated by them and we’re not going up there with anything to fear.
“We have a right togetherness in our squad this season and it will hopefully take us a long way, especially in games like this.”
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
