Hamilton Accies tackle Alloa Athletic in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg tonight - and former boss Brian Rice could be the man who helps relegate them by the end of the week.
Rice was gaffer at New Douglas Park for two years and oversaw their relegation from the Scottish Premiership in the 2020/21 season.
Now in charge of the Wasps, he will be looking to send his old side into League One if Alloa are to make next week's final against either Falkirk or Airdrie.
But he insists he knows how tough a task his League One outfit, who finished fourth in the table, will face at the Indodrill tonight.
“It’s not about me,” Rice told the Alloa Advertiser. “It’s about us going out against Hamilton and trying to get through after two games.
“It’s going to be really difficult because I know all about Hamilton. I know what kind of player they’ve got and the spirit they’ve got.
“They’re a Championship team, they didn’t come down [relegated] automatically so they’re a Championship team as things stand.
“It’s going to be really difficult but we need to make sure we give it everything we’ve got, we don’t leave anything out on that pitch.
“To be fair to the boys, I look at the league we’re in and we’ve finished the best out of the part-time teams.
“Three full-time teams above us [Dunfermline, Falkirk and Airdrie] and we’re the best out of the part-time teams."
Meanwhile, Accies assistant boss Darian Mackinnon says his side must show no fear as they aid to preserve their Championship status.
John Rankin's Accies avoided automatic relegation by the skin of their teeth, pipping bottom side Cove to the play-off place on goal difference.
MacKinnon said: “All you want is an opportunity and we’ve given ourselves that, it’s not by any means a given and we have to go and take care of Alloa.
“The team that makes less mistakes will go through.
“You shouldn’t fear it because it’s a game of football but if you have the fear and nerves you’re not going to play your best.
“We want to stay in this league, it means so much for people at this club and us. You don’t want to let anyone down.”
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