CALL it the calm before the storm, but Steve Bruce yesterday claimed to be enjoying a blissfully serene week.
As well as organising a trip to Hornsea, where every member of Hull City squad was treated to fish and chips and a jog along the beach, Bruce was also delighted to welcome nesting geese back to the garden of his West Midlands home.
All the strains of the Championship promotion race have been allowed to wash over the City boss. And tonight will be no different.
Although players and staff will gather at City's team hotel to watch Watford's bid to keep the fight for second spot alive at Leicester, Bruce insists he will avoid a fixture that could yet add the final brush-stroke to City's promotion masterpiece.
"I certainly won't be watching," said Bruce at the club's Cottingham training base yesterday. "No, will I heck.
"Some players will watch it, some won't. I'm not going to make it compulsory and I'm not planning to watch it all together.
"Why put yourself through that? You'd be kicking every ball and have yourself exhausted before Saturday has come around. I might have a glance at it every now and then but I doubt I'll watch it."
Bruce will not be short of updates, especially if Watford are found toiling at the King Power Stadium, but take him at his word and all of his attentions are instead on Barnsley.
City's four-point advantage could be slashed to just one solitary point if the Hornets can find a victory over Leicester and Bruce has mentally prepared himself for the promotion fight to drag on at least another day.
"In my mind I think we'll need a point at Barnsley," he explained. "I expect Watford to get some sort of result and I'd think that might be a draw.
"If that's the case then we'll need a draw from the last two games.
"I wouldn't blame the players for watching it, but I'll steer clear of it.
"The way I see it panning out, we'll need to go to Barnsley and get something. That's my mind-set and it won't change.
"If Leicester win, great, but they might not and we've got to be ready."
Either Bruce has grown immune to these pressures after three decades in the game or he makes a convincing actor. Regardless, all pressures have purposely been deflected away from his players.
After a 0-0 draw with Bristol City seven days ago had Bruce accepting tension had strangled the life from his side, a calm and relaxed environment has since been nurtured.
That much was clear with a seaside outing on Tuesday. Shelving training in favour of a day-trip to Hornsea, Bruce carefully orchestrated a break from the typical routine. The smiles and laughter commonplace at the club's Cottingham training ground yesterday suggested it had worked.
"We went to Hornsea on Tuesday for a jog along the beach and a paddle in the sea," he said.
"We had fish and chips too, which were marvellous, and by the end of it we were all goosed with the sea air.
"It was just something a different to get the players away from it all.
"Whichever way you look at it, we know it's a huge weekend and it's all about how we handle it.
"I know we'll be better this week than last week. We were too anxious and determined to do too well.
"It's a big game and a big occasion tomorrow. Win and we're promoted, it's as simple as that.
"What a fantastic position to be in. Let's just hope it's written in the stars for us."
Bruce also stayed faithful to a traditional Wednesday of complete rest. As much, you suspect, for his own peace of mind on the eve of a weekend to define the campaign.
"I was just in the garden and walking my dogs," said Bruce.
"I've got a pair of geese that come back into the garden every year and she was on the nest.
"Did you know Canada geese have mates for life? For the last six months they've had their young ones in my garden and she's back again.
"I was just making sure she was all right but the dogs try and chase her. It was certainly one way of switching off."
That was Bruce's last chance for distractions. A busy media call yesterday will be followed by the squad's journey to South Yorkshire this afternoon.
Promotion may come tonight, tomorrow or, brace yourselves, on the final day of a gripping season next weekend.
If only for the sake of a region's wellbeing, it is hoped former boss Nigel Pearson can be the man that sends City into the Premier League 18 months on from his acrimonious switch to Leicester.
"It would be some quirk," said Bruce. "Is it written to work out like that? Who knows?"
The answer will become clear in a matter of hours.
