The countdown to tomorrow's big Premier League kick-off has been ongoing for the past three months, yet the actual results of the games are likely to be as meaningless as a footballer's contract.
And that's good news for the likes of Bolton and Stoke – who face each other at the Reebok – and Hull and Fulham, who clash at the KC.
As philosophical coaches are for ever telling us, it's a long and hard season and the opening day is just three points from a potential 114.
Last season, for instance, Manchester United picked up only two points from their opening three games.
'We've blown it', thought some fans. Yet come the end of the season, it was red, white and black ribbons that were attached to the Premier League vase. In reality, the major turning points of the season tend to take place during both, the Christmas rush – where teams often find themselves playing three games in the space of seven days – and the end-of-season run-in.
This year, however, the Big Four's title challenges could come under scrutiny as early as September.
United face a tough trip to Anfield on September 13 before, seven days later, travelling down to Stamford Bridge, where Sir Alex Ferguson and Luiz Felipe Scolari can enjoy a formal – and no doubt fiery – introduction.
Whoever comes out on top of those two clashes will set themselves in good stead for the run up to winter.
Meanwhile, the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham takes place on October 28 and, if results go as expected, should see the White Hart Lane outfit go into the game high in confidence: Spurs welcome Stoke to the Lane the week before, having travelled to Hull the previous weekend. With Arsene Wenger keen to prove Tottenham's 5-1 rout over their rivals in last season's Carling Cup semi-final was an anomaly, things could get interesting in North London.
The first games of the New Year will see Scolari and Ferguson do battle again, this time on the Scot's home turf. Chelsea will be keen to secure a morale-booster ahead of an away tie with Liverpool three weeks later on January 31.
In the final month of the season United face Arsenal (May 16) and Liverpool host Tottenham (May 24). How important those games may be is yet to be seen, but you wouldn't bet against them affecting the league table. And that's not to mention Bolton hosting Hull on May 16 – a six pointer if ever there was one.