Oran Kearney is hoping Coleraine can put the "frustrations" of the past few weeks behind in tonight's European Play-off at Cliftonville.
Kearney has had one eye on this date since the split fixtures commenced and that was borne out by his team selections as he wrapped his side in cotton wool.
The shackles were loosened slightly for the final league game as the Bannsiders ran out 3-0 winners over league champions Larne, with Kearney pleased to see his men "flex their muscles" ahead of the crucial trip to Solitude.
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"I and everyone else will forget the last few weeks," he said.
"I'm just glad we got through it with no injuries or suspensions.
"It has been frustrating for all of us and even the players because they're not used to the chopping and changing, the different formations and the three or four changes every game.
"All anyone wants to see moving into the play-off game is that we flexed our muscles a little bit and show what we've got.
"I thought the performance against Larne was bang on where it needed to be.
"That's all we've been looking to do in the last four or five weeks.
"We have managed the squad how we needed to and hopefully that leaves us with a strong 18 heading into the Cliftonville game.
"We wanted to keep everyone fresh and fit. There are players who have missed games who wouldn't have if we were in the middle of the season.
"Unless players are 100% fit we have wrapped them in cotton wool.
"The key thing was to make sure we have as strong a panel as possible heading into the play-off.
"We can't afford going into that game with a few players out, we need our strongest players on the pitch and we have plenty to offer when we can do that."
Remarkably Coleraine have never won a game in the end of season play-offs in three attempts.
Tonight sees a seventh meeting of the season between the Reds and the Bannsiders with the last four finishing 2-2!
Goals will be crucial tonight and Kearney was delighted to see top scorer Matthew Shevlin find his scoring touch again against Larne after a barren run.
"I'd be the first to say that as a team we probably haven't functioned as a team how Matthew needs us to function as he relies on that to get opportunities and chances," he said.
"We've kept telling him that the chances will fall and to keep working hard.
"It's nice for him heading into the play-offs with those goals and the only person who sees that monkey on his back is him.
"Hopefully that leaves him in a good place moving forward."
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