THE CITY Ground will play host to Nottingham Forest against Barnsley tomorrow in a contest that promises to influence both the battle to leave the Championship behind and the fight to remain in it.
For one onlooker, though, that drama will be secondary. One mind will inevitably be found drifting 110 miles down the M1 to Vicarage Road.
Steve Bruce plans to be in attendance at the City Ground to run the rule over Barnsley, the Tigers' opponents for the penultimate weekend of the season, but knows events down at Watford's clash with Blackburn Rovers will eventually have the greatest bearing on his mood.
If Hull City are able to complete their side of the bargain and beat Bristol City at the KC Stadium this evening, anything less than victory for Watford tomorrow will seal the Tigers' promotion to the top flight.
"I don't care where I celebrate promotion so long as it happens," Bruce told the Mail.
"The quicker, the better. I've said to the players 'Can we go and win against Bristol City to close the gap on Cardiff?'
"Let's not give up the title fight yet but it's never entered my mind where I'd like to celebrate."
Asked where he will spend his Saturday afternoon, he said: "I'll be watching Barnsley at Nottingham Forest with an ear on a radio somewhere. I'm sure someone will keep us updated."
If Bruce sees his prayers answered both at the KC and at Vicarage Road, it will be a monumental weekend in City's 109-year history.
While Phil Brown's class of 2007-08 reduced East Yorkshire to tears when winning a first promotion to the top flight through the Championship play-off final at Wembley, the modern crop have opted for style over romance with aspirations for second spot.
A city expects once again and Bruce is ready to deliver.
He explained: "I'm well aware of how much it would mean. It would be great for the city and the region.
"It's not the most affluent area and it's a struggle for people to find the money to come and watch football in this climate.
"It's hard enough paying your bills in the winter and there's me harping on about bringing in the crowds.
"It's not been easy in this region and only when you're here do you understand that.
"I'm from a similar place in the north-east (Wallsend) where people have it tough.
"Make no mistake, the people of Hull have had it tough over the recent years just to find work, let alone find the money to come and watch football.
"I'd love to be able to put a smile on people's faces and have the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea coming here. That would be exciting for everyone."
Bruce made sure he ended every fanciful thought with a snap back into reality on the eve of Bristol City's visit to the KC Stadium.
The Championship has a habit of tripping up the over-excitable, but the Robins' recent demise makes the Tigers odds-on favourites to take another step towards the top flight.
Without an away win since December 8 and rooted to the foot of the Championship, League One football was confirmed at Ashton Gate next season when beaten 1-0 at home to Birmingham on Tuesday.
"Bristol City will come here and play with no fear," argued Bruce.
"I'm sure they've been playing with a cloud hanging over them for weeks but perhaps that pressure is off now.
"If we think they'll come up here and surrender then we'll be very mistaken.
"They'll have some pride about and the manager is the same. They'll not want to come here and roll over, I'm convinced of that."
