Excited Anthony Ralston is desperate to get on the plane to Germany and begin Euro 2024 as Scotland's first pick right-back.
The Celtic defender has seen his game time limited at club level this past season yet finds himself in pole position to feature for his country this summer following injuries to Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson.
Ralston is no stranger to pressurised situations though. He's made over 100 appearances for the Scottish Premiership champions since breaking through in 2016 and came up trumps with huge goals, blocks and moments in Celtic colours.
So despite being behind Alistair Johnston in the Hoops' pecking order, he's been training hard and is expected to be included in the Scotland starting line-up for tonight's international friendly against Finland.
Bristol City's Ross McCrorie is also competing for the right-back role and he earned his first senior cap during the 2-0 win over Gibraltar on Monday. But regardless of who head coach Steve Clarke decides to call on come next Friday's tournament opener, Ralston admits it will just be a special experience to be included among the final 26-man squad.
"Like I've touched on before, as a kid when you are watching these tournaments growing up and seeing all the players that's played in all the big matches that you've watched," he said.
"Given again that that's the case, to say then that you were able to experience that and be one of them players that kids from the next generation are watching and seeing would mean a lot.
"I speak on behalf of the boys as well that have grew up watching the tournaments and they can then say that they were one of them players.
"It would be really special and it would be something that would live with myself forever.
"So, like I say, I will just keep doing the work, keep my head down and see what happens."
