After years of frustration for Northern Ireland fans, the redevelopment of Windsor Park is on course to yield a first-rate international stadium next year.
That is the promise of Irish Football Association chief executive Patrick Nelson, who has played a key role in shepherding the project from divisive pipe dream to its current state of spades-in-the-ground construction.
With no suitable alternative in the country, the national side will continue to play at Windsor while work continues and Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifier against the Faroe Islands will take place with only two stands open and a reduced capacity of 10,500.
But Nelson believes that can only be a positive thing as it finally means work is under way on revamping an arena that had started to stick out like a sore thumb on the European circuit.
"At the moment it's a building site, it's a work in progress and we'll have a lower capacity for the next few games, but what that means is we're closer to having a fantastic new stadium in a year's time," he told Press Association Sport.
"When people see it on Saturday the reaction will be 'wow, it's really happening'. This project has been talked about for 15 years, which pre-dates my arrival, but people will see that it is now on the way.
"Things have already been happening, we've got a brand new pitch of world-class quality, we've got under soil heating and a first-class sprinkler system, which we've never had before, and there's a new 3G surround at the edge of the pitch.
"For this game we've got new permanent rooftop floodlights in the North Stand - not the old 1950s towers we used to have.
"The new seats that are coming are the same as the ones in the Allianz Arena and we think if they're good enough for Bayern Munich, they're good enough for Northern Ireland.
"Everything is on track and by the end of next October we'll have an 18,000 capacity, two brand new stands and two refurbished ones."
Nelson is already looking at potential opponents for a marquee opening fixture in November 2015.
And although he is not ready to name names, sights are firmly set on a big name draw.
"We have a hit list. There are 208 other nations in FIFA and it's fair to say most of them wouldn't be on the dream short list," he said.
"There's a small number who would be on that and we (are) continually talking to people about what can be done."
Asked if England might be persuaded to return to the scene of their memorable 1-0 defeat in 2005, when David Healy recorded one of Northern Ireland's most cherished results, Nelson said: "They are one of a number of teams who could come along and support an opening like this. I wouldn't count anyone in or out yet."
Source: PA
