Ireland captain William Porterfield is convinced his team are as ready as they can be for their World Twenty20 Group A 'final' against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge on Monday.
Porterfield was always reckoning on his team's first match in the tournament being a likely decider of who progresses to the Super Eight stage alongside India.
After the champions' 25-run victory over Bangladesh on Saturday night, his original assessment is confirmed.
Ireland therefore need to revisit the form of their 2007 World Cup campaign - when they brushed Bangladesh aside by 74 runs in Barbados - if they are to go through.
'No matter who we play, we've got to be on our game in all three departments,' Porterfield spelled out.
'In that game (in Bridgetown) we were. But here it will be even more important - because in the shortened form of the game you have to have that intensity from ball one.
'All three disciplines will need to be bang on tomorrow.'
As England and Australia have already discovered, this tournament provides no comfort zone and precious little opportunity for second chances.
For Ireland, the prospect of having to somehow beat India in their second match should they fail against Bangladesh is something Porterfield is sensibly setting well aside.
'We know this is a 'final' - between the two of us to see who goes through,' he accepts.
'You know now that's for definite. But it was always going to be that we had to get two points in this match.'
When it comes to ongoing development and progression, Bangladesh's Test and full one-day international status gives them a major advantage over a top 'associate' team such as Ireland.
That fact was pinpointed by Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom when he spoke last week of his frustrations at the 'glass ceiling' above those countries outside the world elite.
Porterfield is well aware of the limitations imposed on Ireland and others - but that will not stop him striving to overturn the odds with a team he believes are still very much on the up.
'It's always hard (for us) in terms of funding,' he said.
'In an ideal world, we'd have 15 contracted players, playing day in day out for Ireland - and playing better and better cricket.
'But I think we have progressed since then (2007 World Cup). We have our first two lads on full-time contracts now, since we qualified for the 2011 World Cup.
'If we can get more and more Irish players in full-time cricket and full-time contracts back home then we're only going to improve as a nation.'
The evidence on the field is encouraging for Porterfield and Co.
'We've got stronger, and the depth in our squad has got stronger,' he reports.
'The lads have improved and are learning the game better, picking up things more quickly.'
Ireland's personnel includes wicketkeeper-batsman Niall O'Brien and giant pace bowler Boyd Rankin, like Porterfield both plying their trade in county cricket.
O'Brien's brother Kevin provides a big-hitting option in the middle order, along with former captain Trent Johnston.
'We've got something different in big Boyd,' Porterfield believes.
'He's 6ft 8in and can get a bit of extra bounce. He's not something that everyone will have faced.
'Then we've got the likes of Kevin and Trent in the middle order, who can clear the boundary ropes.
'We've got a few "impact" players.'
He knows Bangladesh will be formidable opponents, however - hard-hitting opener Tamim Iqbal one of several players capable of taking the game away from anyone.
'Bangladesh keep coming at you both with bat and ball,' he said.
'They're not going to be easy opposition.'
Bangladesh will find themselves in the unaccustomed position of starting as favourites - and coach Jamie Siddons warns they cannot afford to slip up for a moment.
'It still depends what Ireland do with India, I guess. But we probably need to win this one pretty well,' said the Australian.
'I think we've got the talent, and we're playing well enough to get over the line against Ireland.
'If we make silly mental mistakes we can still be outplayed by Ireland, so we need to be at the top of our game.'
