Hull City v Norwich City: From helpless to in his hands as Regan Slater's mood goes 360
This time 12 months ago, Regan Slater was utterly helpless as Hull City headed into their doomsday scenario.
Now, not only will Slater be able to influence events this time, but Saturday's game at home to Norwich City is about achieving something remarkable, rather than dodging something unthinkable.
Even over the course of last weekend the mood shifted significantly, from the depths of a sixth straight game without a win at Charlton Athletic on Saturday, to the lift of a result on Sunday which has Slater convinced victory over the Canaries in the 12.30pm kick-off will put Hull into the play-offs.
Context is crucial in assessing what has been a tremendous season for the Tigers considering they only escaped relegation at Portsmouth on goal difference last season. They were then stopped from buying or even paying loan fees for players for the next two transfer windows.
But it will not feel that way if, after so long in the Championship play-off places, they end the season in seventh or eighth.
"I feel like it's a different kind of nervous," said Slater, who was injured for last season's final game at Fratton Park and has not started any of the last six but says he is now fully fit for Saturday after a recent ankle problem.
"We're fighting this time for something that could be incredible, whereas last time it could have been a disaster.
"Regardless of what happens on Saturday, from where we were in pre-season, we've already achieved our target (a top-half finish) so it's kind of a free hit for us. No one expected us to be where we are. Everyone wrote us off.
"We've put ourselves in this position, so it's on us to get the job done now."
Slater enjoys that responsibility, having had it taken away from him at Portsmouth.
"It's not great," he says of the experience of watching from the sidelines. "You understand why the fans get so nervous. It's horrible just to be watching and have no impact on what's going on. I'd much rather be on the pitch – way less nervous.
"I feel like the big stage is there for the big characters and whatnot.
"It's a massive game for us and we'll turn up."
And Coventry City's win over Wrexham has made it all feel much more achievable. It kept the Dragons level on points with Hull, and dragged their goal difference to within one. Hull have scored one more goal, and have the better head-to-head record to see them through if all else is equal.
Wrexham are at home to automatic promotion-chasing Middlesbrough on the final day. Derby County lurk one point back with a better goal difference, hoping for slip-ups they can capitalise on at home to Sheffield United.
But knowing Wrexham had lost 3-1 on Sunday changed the whole final-day mood.
"It's as if everything's fell into place nicely, really," reflects former Sheffield United midfielder Slater. "We couldn't have really asked for a better opportunity.
"If you'd have said at the start of the season win this game, you'd be in the play-offs, I'd have snapped your hand off for it.
"It's just up to us to turn up now.
"On Sunday, I was out for the first half. I was checking the scores and what have you, and then watched the second half.
“I wasn't that invested in the sense where, even if they were to get a result, we still could have done it somehow, so it wouldn't have been the end of the world (if Wrexham taken something against the champions).
"But I always watch the football anyway, so I'd have watched it regardless.
"I've got Joffy (team-mate Joe Gelhardt) texting me and his missus is texting my missus about it.
"It's obviously going to give you a lift, especially when you're so disappointed from not taking an opportunity against Charlton.
"You get another opportunity that's come your way, where I believe it is in our hands. I feel like if we can get the three points, then that would be enough.
"So, yeah, it picks everyone up. It's on us, really, which is a nice place to be. It's in our hands.” He says the mood at the training ground has steadily improved, and senses a determination with it.
"Starting the week after a loss, it's always a little bit down,” he explains.
"The lads that have played are tired, which is normal, but as the week's gone on, lads pick up and you can see it on their faces in the morning, you know where lads are at.
"It's always the same after a loss, lads come in a bit down and what have you, but then as the week goes on, you can see everyone starts brightening up, and that's exactly what's happening.
"We'll probably get written off again on Saturday. Even little things like the betting, we're never favourites.
"We've been sat in play-off spaces all season and are never the favourites, which just shows you that no-one's expecting us to get it done. So it's nice to have that underdog feeling."