Jack Diamond was the only member of the Harrogate Town squad delighted when the FA Cup first-round draw was made and the National League side avoided being paired against Sunderland.
Academy product Diamond joined Town on loan in September, and if they had drawn the Black Cats he would have been unable to play in a prestige tie against his parent club.
But instead he is preparing to step onto the biggest stage of his fledgling career tonight when League One Portsmouth visit Town's Wetherby Road ground, in a game that will be screened live on BT Sport.
"I couldn't have asked for anything better, to be fair," said the 19-year-old, who can operate as a striker or on either flank.
"When the draw was made, all the lads were hoping for Sunderland – except me, because I don't think I would have been able to play!
"So Portsmouth was just about the best draw we could have got from my point of view.
"There's history between Sunderland and Portsmouth in the play-offs and in the EFL Trophy last season, so it's a good one for me if I can do well."
The FA Cup is famous for producing shocks, and it is no surprise that the TV cameras are heading for Harrogate in the hope that Simon Weaver's side can cause an upset on their 3G pitch against a side two divisions above them in the football pyramid.
But while Diamond is keen to help deliver a shock result for Harrogate and please the TV viewers rooting for the underdog, the two men he most wants to impress will be watching from the stands with Black Cats boss Phil Parkinson and Kevin Ball, who looks after the club's loan players, making the trip to North Yorkshire to check on him in person.
Diamond was sent out on loan to aid his development in September, meaning new boss Parkinson - who only took charge last month - has yet to see him in action.
"When you are out on loan and the manager changes back at home, you never know whether he is aware of you or not," said Diamond, whose loan spell originally ran until January but has now been extended to the end of the season.
"But Bally reassured me that he would speak to the new manager and make sure that didn't happen.
"And I'm buzzing that the manager and Bally are coming down to watch tonight.
"This is a big game in the cup and if I do well, it will hopefully help me get a chance in the Sunderland first team – that's where I want to be and that's why I'm here on loan."
Gateshead-born Diamond joined Sunderland's academy at the age of 14 and over the last 12 months he had stood out at U23 level and has been involved in the club's EFL Trophy campaign last season but the next step for him was to go out on loan to play senior football, as Elliot Embleton did last season at Grimsby Town.
Diamond said: "It's very different to the U23s. You can see the experience in that league, and you are playing against players who are either on loan from, or who have dropped down from, Leagues One and Two and who are trying to impress and get back up.
"It's competitive and everyone is fighting to win.
"Obviously you want to win when you're playing for the U23s as well but it's more about development than results, but in the National League there is money involved and players are playing for win bonuses and what have you.
"I've started the last five or six games so I'm happy with that.
"At the start, I didn't expected to be starting games straightaway because I knew that I wouldn't be able to just walk into the team – I would have to earn a place.
"I came off the bench a few times, and kept improving my performances and eventually won a place in the starting XI.
"I just want to get as many first-team games as I can here, and I'm really pleased that I'm now staying on loan for the rest of the season.
"I want to play at Sunderland, obviously, but senior football is what I need at the moment.
"I want to be in Sunderland's first team squad, and it's a case of proving to people that I can do that.
"This is a chance for me to get senior games so that when I come back I'm seen as someone who can step up to the first team, rather than as an inexperienced youngster.
"I'm enjoying it. It's different to what I'm used to at Sunderland, driving down there every day, and the training and what have you.
"But it's been good, they are looking after me well, and I'm really enjoying playing men's football rather than age group football."
At Harrogate, there is a strong Wearside link with former Black Cats midfielder Paul Thirlwell assistant to Weaver, while ex-Sunderland striker Jon Stead is now a teammate of Diamond.
And Diamond's move to Town came about as a result of Thirlwell's relationship with Ball.
Ball said: "It's important for our young players to go out on loan to get senior experience, and it is great for us to let a player like Jack join a club like Harrogate where we have a link with Paul.
"We know he will be well looked after there and they will help with his development, and we can keep checking on him
"I went down to watch Harrogate train recently and they've got a really good set-up, so we're delighted that he is doing well there."
Thirlwell added: "I'd seen Jack play before and I'm in constant contact with Bally because we had Andrew Nelson come to us on loan a couple of years ago.
"I went up to watch the U23s at the end of August against Aston Villa and had a chat with Bally.
"I thought Jack stood out and he did really, really well, he was exactly what we were looking for.
"Our gaffer knew I was going up there and I told him that I really liked the lad.
"And since he has been here, Jack has done well, really well.
"When he first arrived it was an area we wanted to have an extra body, and he had to bide his time a little bit in terms of waiting to get a start because we were in a good run of form and we had a couple of decent players in that position.
"He had to be patient but he came on as a sub a couple of times and he learned quickly.
"It's completely different to U23s football in that it's three points, it matters, it's quick and it can be unforgiving at times.
"Jack has got undoubted ability so we wanted him to express himself.
"He got his opportunity away at Yeovil which was never going to be an easy game for him to come into, because they are a strong side in our league.
"We won the game 2-0 and he was exceptional on the day, did everything we had asked him to do and he has just gone on from there and played every game since."
The FA Cup tie against Portsmouth is a big game for Harrogate and for Diamond, but Thirlwell says they are relishing the challenge.
He said: "All our lads are ambitious, they are a great group.
"It's a great chance for them to test themselves not just against a side from the league above, but from the league above that, so they are really excited for it.
"Jack isn't the kind of character who will be fazed by it.
"He's confident on the football pitch.
"He puts a shift in when he doesn't have the ball, which is what you need to do at this level and at any level, really.
"He's physically ready and mentally tough enough, so he has got a great chance."
