That 'final day' feeling will come a week early for Sunderland when they face Portsmouth in a crucial promotion clash this weekend, according to Jack Ross.
The Black Cats take on Pompey at the Stadium of Light tomorrow in a game which could have a huge bearing on both clubs' automatic promotion prospects.
Portsmouth will arrive on Wearside knowing victory in their three remaining games - with their weekend visit to Sunderland followed by home games against Peterborough United and Accrington Stanley - will guarantee promotion.
For their part Sunderland know they need to win to stand a realistic chance of securing a top two finish, although they would likely need to win their last two games at Fleetwood Town and Southen United and even then they would still need second-placed Barnsley to drop points.
Trio return to training as Jack Ross gives an injury update ahead of Portsmouth clash
A draw would suit neither Sunderland nor Pompey but would play into the hands of the Tykes.
That being the case, Ross expects a nailbiting game which will see whichever side is losing forced to take a gung-ho approach late in the game, while if the scores are level both teams will have to take risks to try get the win they need.
Ross said: "It will have a 'final day' feel about it, without it being the final day!
"That's why we have got to look at it in isolation.
"Portsmouth have got a midweek game, just as we do, but neither of us can look ahead at that - we can only look at this one.
"I would imagine there will be periods of the game where it will be frenetic, and I had a similar feeling about the Easter games as well, but it will be even more so this weekend.
"You could feel the tension in the air in these kind of games and it can also be reflected in some of the results as well."
Sunderland lost to Portsmouth at Fratton Park in December, although the tipping point came when Glenn Loovens was sent off early in the second half in an incident which also gave Pompey the penalty which saw them break the deadlock.
And then last month the sides fought out a 2-2 draw after extra time in the EFL Trophy final at Wembley, before Pompey eventually triumphed on penalties.
But while the draw in the cup final meant both sides had another opportunity to win in the penalty shootout, they could take no such consolation from a a draw tomorrow - especially if Barnsley win at home to Blackpool, which see the South Yorkshire side tighten their grip on second place and leave them one win away from securing promotion.
"Both teams will have that 'win at all costs' approach because the draw could be of little use to ourselves or Portsmouth going into the final week," said Ross.
"It depends on how the game goes - if one team is ahead, it will be different, but if it is level in the second half then it is going to become pretty stretched and pretty frenetic.
"Hopefully we will be in a position where we can manage the game."
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