Two old friends will be reacquainted in the midst of a steaming, testosterone-ridden mass of 16 blokes on Sunday.
When the referee's cadence reaches the word "crouch" on the first scrum of the day as Leicester and Toulon lock horns at Welford Road, Marcos Ayerza and Martin Castrogiovanni will look each other directly in the eye.
For seven years between 2006 and 2013, after joining Leicester from virtual obscurity, the two men fought the same battles, changed in the same changing room and enjoyed the same sweet taste of success on many occasions.
Two-thirds of a front-row that ran roughshod over opposition the length and breadth of Europe, Ayerza and Castrogiovanni will be adversaries for 80 minutes on Sunday evening.
It's not the first time they have played against each other having met on international duty when Argentina faced Italy.
One of those meetings produced a "20-second scrum", according to Ayerza.
"We were trying everything we could to win it but it didn't move," said Ayerza.
Sunday will be their first meeting at club level and the stakes are sky high – for the home team at least.
Defeat in Llanelli in October has not exactly left Tigers in the Last Chance Saloon – but they are certainly standing in the doorway.
Ayerza and Castrogiovanni, who left Tigers in 2013, will be at the coalface for that battle and the Argentine has already heard from his old mate.
"He has been in touch with me because he thinks he has a good chance of starting so we can play directly against each other," said Ayerza.
"We have kept in touch since he moved and I speak often with him. It's good to maintain friendships.
"He mentions Leicester some weeks. He misses the crowd, the people and the environment.
"But he doesn't miss the weather! And he loves the food out there.
"We will be talking to each other during the game and will be trying to win the battle.
"It could be hard to keep your mind on the game when you play against friends and, while there is banter, we are both professionals who have a job to do.
"It's a good mix of seriousness, fun and laughing.
"It's great and one of the nice things about rugby. There will be a bit of competitiveness and always friendship.
"It might be emotional for him coming back to Leicester.
"He has given so many years of service and so much blood so it might be special for him.
"He will run out at Welford Road once more and see those fans again."
The Ayerza v Castrogiovanni tussle is just one of a number of heavyweight individual battles around the pitch.
The possibility of Brad Thorn and Bakkies Botha going head-to-head in the line-out and pack is another one.
"There will be massive challenges all over the pitch but sport is full of them," said Ayerza.
"This game is hugely exciting and we are all looking forward to it.
"This will bring the best out of any player. We all want to test ourselves against the best players in the world.
"We know the team we are up against on Sunday and we know the players we will be playing against.
"With our home crowd behind us, I am dying to play this game."
