Excitement will be reaching optimum level for a group of Perth curlers.
Mairi Milne, Wendy Johnston, Katie Loudon and Edith Hazard - the latter now based in America - jet out to Switzerland on Thursday morning for the beginning of the World Senior Championships.
The local quartet won the Scottish Championships earlier this year to book their ticket and will proudly pull on the national jerseys in Geneva, alongside Jackie Lockhart.
Their tournament sweeps into life on Saturday with a tough opener against reigning champions Canada.
“We have had a number of practices down at the National Curling Academy in Stirling,” Mairi told the PA this week.
“Edith arrived from America last Thursday so she is over the jet-lag, so that is great.
“It’s taken a while to come round but now it’s imminent and really exciting.
“We’ve got a pretty tough section and start with Canada on Saturday morning. We know the Canadians are very experienced - Sherry Anderson’s team have won the last couple world championships so they will be difficult to topple.
“But we would like to think that we’ll be challenging for a play-off spot. Then once you get to the play-offs, anything can happen. We’ll be trying our very best.”
Plenty of reminiscing has been taking place in the lead-up to the first stone being thrown.
And set to make this latest Scotland honour all the more special is the fact that a number of supporters are on board to cheer the team to success from the stands.
“The last time I played in a Scotland top was 1998 and the first time was 1990,” Mairi smiled. “That’s a long time ago.
“Earlier this week I was looking out some tops for our supporters who are heading over. They wanted the vintage tops.
“It brought back memories and it makes you even more excited. It’s really great to have the chance to put on a Scotland jersey again.
“Both of my sisters and my partner are coming to watch. I think we’ve got about nine supporters coming with us.
“They will be coming out in the middle of the week so hopefully we are going well by then!”
The team were very keen to thank the sponsors who are making the trip possible, including local businesses G&M Mechanical Services, James McEwan & Son and Loch Leven’s Larder.
