Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is ready for the talking to stop and the action to start in tonight's blockbusting derby against Manchester United.
Kompany admits there has been no avoiding the hype surrounding the eagerly-anticipated clash of the neighbouring heavyweights, which could settle the destiny of the Barclays Premier League title.
City head into the game at the Etihad Stadium knowing that victory would take them back to the top of the table on goal difference with just two games remaining.
Many have billed the game as the biggest in Premier League history and Kompany is just anxious to get it under way.
The Belgium defender said: "People bring you back to it a lot.
"I can't remember meeting anyone in the last three or four days who didn't talk to me about it.
"But I go back to the reasons why I love football so much and this is one of the reasons.
"It's not a fear of playing the game, just an eager feeling to get to the stadium and get it started."
That City are back in title contention seemed unlikely after a defeat at Arsenal three weeks ago left them eight points off the pace.
Since then City have reproduced some of their early-season best form to sweep West Brom, Norwich and Wolves aside while United have faltered against Wigan and Everton.
Yet while City manager Roberto Mancini has continually downplayed his side's title chances during that period, Kompany has preferred not to even think about the situation.
The 26-year-old said: "I think we did the right thing deciding we were going to just focus on ourselves.
"I know that's a classic line to come out with, but ultimately, for us, that's the right thing to do.
"Personally, I'm very neutral. I've said to myself since the beginning of the season, whenever I see a competitor play, whether it's United or Tottenham, I try not to care about their result and to be as neutral as I can, so it doesn't have any effect on my morale, and just try to be better every game and win all of our games.
"That's what we've done in the past three games.
"Stats speak - and they are facts. That's why I don't want to get involved in those mental wars.
"I can tell you now there is nothing in the papers that will have an influence on our performance."
Michael Carrick does not believe tonight's Manchester derby can be billed as a title decider.
Even Alex Ferguson has labelled the encounter at the Etihad Stadium as such, claiming it is the most important derby he has been involved in during his 26 years at Old Trafford.
Yet United midfielder Carrick is not so sure.
After this evening, both clubs will have two Barclays Premier League matches to play, including tricky trips to the north-east, where City head to face Newcastle next weekend and United visit on the final day of the season for an encounter with Sunderland.
City also have to face a QPR side even more desperate for points following yesterday's horror show at Chelsea, while Swansea - so impressive on their return to the top flight - visit Old Trafford next Sunday.
And the fixture list has led Carrick to conclude that nothing will be decided tonight.
"Whatever happens, the title race won't be over at the final whistle," Carrick told club website manutd.com.
"Obviously we're the two main contenders and this is going to be a big three points, but there will still be two games left to play and the way the last couple of weeks have gone, I don't think you can look at the derby as a decider.
"Who knows what might still happen? We can only look at this game as an opportunity to win three points.
"Don't get me wrong, it would be a massive step towards the title if we win, but it won't hand us the trophy."
Carrick is aiming to win his fifth championship in six seasons as a United player, but as he observes, none of them have been achieved with any degree of comfort.
This time around is no exception after United threw away two points against Everton last week.
It means a City win will also take them top, although Carrick prefers to focus on the position as it is now.
"We are still in a good position," he said. "We're three points in front with three games to go. I think some people have forgotten that.
"Every time we've won the league since I've been here it's gone right down to the last couple of games.
"We've never won it with loads of games to spare. It just doesn't happen.
"Throughout the season you drop points and you can drop points at any time.
"We went on an incredible run after Christmas and put ourselves into a good position but we still have a job to do."
KEY BATTLES
CARLOS TEVEZ v RIO FERDINAND
After his turbulent season, Tevez is a force for good at City once more and his partnership with fellow Argentina star Sergio Aguero has sparked the Blues into life.
Ferdinand has enjoyed an outstanding season but every so often worrying cracks appear in the United defence. He must stop City blasting them open.
YAYA TOURE v MICHAEL CARRICK
Stopping Toure could be as big a job as actually creating openings for United middle man Carrick.
The giant Ivorian can be a devastating midfield presence and if he gets into his stride, he can be impossible to hold back. Carrick must subdue his opponent, otherwise United are in trouble.
VINCENT KOMPANY v WAYNE ROONEY
Kompany lasted a matter of minutes in January's FA Cup tie before he was sent off for lunging in on Nani.
The centre-half cannot afford to repeat that mistake because Rooney is currently in his best form of the season and requires only one more goal to match his highest individual haul.
