Brian Easton has revealed the joking has already started as St Johnstone prepare to face English giants Manchester City.
Saints have won the golden ticket to head south tomorrow to play cash-laden City behind closed doors at their 7,000-capacity Academy Stadium in Sportcity.
That will see Easton and his colleagues go up against stars like David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and the great Sergio Aguero.
The anticipation has been building since the invitation came through from new Etihad boss Pep Guardiola to Saints manager Tommy Wright.
It appears that central defender Steven Anderson has had most of the patter aimed at him.
Easton said: “We will be playing against guys we watched on TV at the Euros and all last season in the Premier League.
“This game has a buzz about it.
“Understandably, there has been a bit of banter in training.
“I could be up against guys like Sterling or Navas, while we have been slagging big Ando a lot.
“We have been saying that he is old school so he should just take Aguero out of the game!
“Seriously, though, it will be a great test and hopefully we will go down there and play a bit ourselves.
“It’s exciting for us and we will get a chance to see how Pep Guardiola’s team is shaping up before they get started.
“There is no pressure on us because it is behind closed doors but let’s just say it will a good wee test before we start the league season against Aberdeen on Sunday.
“We will be playing against some of the best before going into that game and then we have the cup match with Hearts.
“So there is no way we will get away with anything less than 100% against City.
“Even if they aren’t playing full out they are such good players that we will have to be on our mettle or we will get turned over.
“So we will have to step it up.”
Wright will take his 20-strong squad down to England after training on Tuesday, with Keith Watson and Chris Millar out injured.
The McDiarmid gaffer is keen to see what his men can do against such top-class opposition.
Wright said: “It’s a great opportunity for us and it doesn’t really matter who they play.
“They have asked that we definitely bring our first team and we certainly will do that.
“It’s a part of their preparation and it’s a good way to finish of our preparation heading into the league campaign.
“Wednesday is normally a harder day for us anyway so, in terms of physical exertion, it will have no impact on Sunday’s game.
“I think it will give the players a lift to go and be on the same pitch as some of the best players in the world.”
Wright revealed David Wotherspoon will start against City.
He added: “I thought he was really good against Stirling Albion.
“We were getting so much possession of the ball and he combined well with Blair Alston, who we put to right back.”
