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KUALA LUMPUR - Radojko Avramovic was not a happy man here yesterday afternoon and it was not because news had just filtered through that all 85,000 tickets for the second leg of the World Cup second round qualifier between Malaysia and Singapore had been sold by lunchtime.
Even at the best of times his withered face wears a serious look, but he was growling angry at being made to wait around for the pre-match press conference for tonight's red-hot Causeway derby at Bukit Jalil Stadium.
After an hour's delay it kicked off, and the Singapore coach returned to his usual picture of serious calm, as always ready and eager to talk football.
His counterpart, Malaysia coach K Rajagobal, was at the table with him. Both men clearly understood the significance of the battle ahead, suggesting a football clash to savour.
The Lions hold the advantage after their 5-3 win in the first leg last Saturday at Jalan Besar Stadium, and Avramovic said: "This is a big match. We know what's at stake. We are ready and prepared for this game."
If that was a gauntlet thrown down by the Serb, then "King Raja", as he is known here, readily picked it up.
"It's the same thing for my men. This is a big match for us, an important match for us," said the Malaysian.
"We have worked hard over the last few days and there is nothing much else left to say.
"We are focused to win the match."
It was classic sports drama played out at the Football Association of Malaysia's headquarters. On the eve of a potentially explosive contest, Avramovic and Rajagobal were like two fighters before a boxing match, refusing to yield, not admitting to any weakness in their respective camps.
Much has been said about the intimidating atmosphere the Lions will face when they walk out of Bukit Jalil Stadium tonight.
Go past the imposing structure and one can picture the architects from Weidleplan Consulting of Germany drawing inspiration from the Coliseum when they came up with the design for the stadium.
The Lions will have a few hundred fans from Singapore in the grandstand, and the other 84,000-odd inside of the cavernous three-terraced bowl will try to rain terror down on them.
But Avramovic was having none of it.
"It will be difficult with over 80,000 Malaysian fans coming down for the game, but we've played in such matches before," the 61-year-old said.
"If you are in football these are the kind of games you want to play in. It will be great, and for both sides.
"We will play there looking for our normal target."
The leader of Singapore's football gladiators and his assistants would have been drumming that message into youngsters like 19-year-old central defender Safuwan Baharudin and goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, 21.
Izwan, who deputised ably for Lionel Lewis last Saturday despite conceding three goals, will be called upon again if the hugely experienced Home United star is still bothered by his troublesome groin injury today.
The fearsome black-clad Malaya Ultras will lead the partisan crowd and raise a menacing, deafening din.
The Lions will be bull-rushed by Rajagobal's men on the pitch and the taunts of the home side's noisy hordes off it, and if he does start, then both Izwan and Safuwan must know how to shut it all out, if the Lions are to stand tall when the dust finally settles.
Publicly at least, Rajagobal claimed he did not think Singapore would be weakened by their youngsters. He felt the Lions were a well-balanced outfit.
Quite simply, the task for his men was to score goals.
Said the former Malaysian defender: "We know we need the goals to win. And we know what we need to do to qualify."
In a rare and priceless moment, Avramovic turned towards his opposite number and cracked open a smile, before saying: "Hopefully, we score one more than them."
He stood up and the two shook hands.
The final clash in this particular chapter of a timeless rivalry had been joined.
The time for talk is over.
Let the battle begin.
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