For most players, the knowledge they are about to play the final 90 minutes of their career before hanging up their boots for good would be an emotion-filled occasion.
However, Raith Rovers’ Jon Daly is taking a “Mr Spock” logical approach to this afternoon’s Scottish Cup tie against Hibs at Stark’s Park, insisting it is “just another game” for him.
The 32-year-old former Dundee United and Rangers striker still believes he could have carried on playing for another couple of seasons.
However, in November he was offered and accepted the chance to move into coaching at Hearts, overseeing their under-20s.
He acknowledges it was too good an opportunity to turn down, even if it did signal the end to his playing career.
When asked if it had sunk in that the Hibs game will be his last, the big Irishman said: “Not really. I am sure it will when the following Saturday comes around and I am not playing.
“It is something that is going to come to every player, but I think I am quite logical and look at things probably differently from other people.
“I don’t get emotional about things and I think I have realised that, as much as I would love to play on for another few years, inevitably I will have to hang the boots up at some stage.
“This opportunity has come around and it was one I wasn’t going to let pass.
“So for the sake of me probably hanging in there for another couple of years while I still feel good, I thought this is the right time and opportunity to make that step on to the next rung of the ladder.
“My wife will be at the game and my sister has said she will try to get across but I think the fact I have been downplaying it as just another game has maybe come across to my family and friends.
“They are maybe trying to hide their emotions from me. It will probably affect them more than me.
“I am sure down the line I will miss playing, but I am very excited to be going in to work with a very talented bunch of lads at Hearts and try to help them the best I can.
“And hopefully before I do that, I can help Raith win against Hibs in the Scottish Cup and finish on a high note.”
Daly’s United career was blighted by serious knee and ankle injuries.
“I do find myself very lucky, especially coming back from three career-threatening injuries,” he said. “I was delighted to get back on the park after the first one, let alone the third one.
“So I do find myself very fortunate that I will now be able to go and work at a club like Hearts.
“It is a great opportunity for me to go and learn, to see what happens on the other side now. It is a new blank page and I need to start working out the coaching side of things.”
Mark Stewart and Iain Davidson return to the Raith squad after recovering from illness.
nrobertson@thecourier.co.uk