Mohamed Salah has conceded both he and Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane will become 'rivals' for one match only as Egypt prepare to face Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Despite Naby Keita being knocked out at the round of 16 stage with Guinea, one of Salah and Mane will see their tournament end in heartbreak after making it all the way to the final of the competition.
Senegal were one of the tournament favourites before a ball had been kicked, meanwhile Egypt have got the better of Ivory Coast, Morocco and Cameroon against the odds.
Sunday's showpiece fixture promises to be a strange occasion for the Liverpool duo as they go head-to-head, but Salah is relishing shaping up against his close companion.
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"It's great to play against Senegal as a team and also against Sadio," he told reporters at a pre-match press conference.
"We are going to be rivals and after the game we will be team-mates again.
"We had a small chat after the Morocco game, we saw each other and I was checking how his head was. I said hopefully we would meet in the final and have a good game."
Neither Mane or Salah have tasted success at AFCON before, although the former came close to glory in 2019 after losing to Algeria in the final.
Victory for Salah would only further raise his reputation as arguably the greatest player in the world on current form, strengthening his case for next year's Ballon d'Or in the process.
Silverware at club level has been achieved by the 29-year-old at both Basel and Liverpool, though he has now set his sights on the 'special' feeling that delivering for his native country on the international stage would bring.
"It is very special to win a trophy with your country," said Salah.
"I won the Champions League which was a great feeling, and I won the Premier League after 30 years with my club. I won in Switzerland, I won everywhere, and also I want to have that feeling of winning my first trophy with my country.
"How special it would be. I am so excited and everyone is ready so hopefully we can win it tomorrow."
