The prospect of an away game against Litex Lovech would generally give the impression of a relatively meaningless pre-season fixture but, Thursday's UEFA Cup encounter with the Bulgarian side is positively resonating with expectancy.
The good times are on the way back for Aston Villa under the stewardship of one Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill.
Any fears that the game would be postponed due to a water logged pitch were alleviated by the forecast of clear skies from Wednesday morning until kick off.
Last season's sixth place Premier League finish ensured Villa had the opportunity to qualify for the competition via the notoriously hazardous Intertoto Cup. An edgy two legged tie against Odense BK was successfully negotiated thanks an Ashley Young rocket at Villa Park.
Villa then swept aside FH Hafnarfjordur in the final qualifying round mainly thanks to an emphatic 4-1 first leg victory in Reykjavik.
Now it's the UEFA Cup proper and after a seven year absence from Europe's second most eminent cup competition.
The famous Claret and Blue team are back where they belong.
O' Neill will have his team as focused and determined as the were for Monday night's terrific display at Tottenham knowing his troops can not accept the shameful fate of Villa's last European adventure (They went out tamely in the first round to Croatian side Varteks).
Knowing a place in the lucrative group stages of the competition waits should be motivation enough, it certainly will be for Randy Lerner.
Stiliyan Petrov is another for whom motivation should not be a problem, adored in his homeland, he will be craving a good result.
Progress under O'Neill has continued to gather at pace this season with a far more solid back line, a midfield obviously revelling in the fact that Gareth Barry is still a Villa player and an attack brimming with vitality, speed and unpredictability.
Something that has not gone unnoticed by Lovech's manager Stanimir Stoilov who observed: 'I'm very afraid of Aston Villa. I saw their victory over Spurs and I have to say they were the perfect team. There is no doubt they are a very strong team.' High praise indeed, let's hope he's right.
The injured John Carew hasn't travelled so Marlon Harewood will be pushing for a place partnering Gabby Agbonlahor up front , while James Milner could make his first start since rejoining the club if Ashley Young fails to recover from a sore knee.
Litex Lovech are something of an unknown entity but it's exactly the type of challenge that Villa must quickly become accustomed to if they are to give the fans to a successful season of UEFA Cup football.