The prize of automatic qualification for the Champions League dangles tantalisingly before Manchester United and Liverpool on the final day of the Premier League season.
With Chelsea already re-affirmed as champions and Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City consigned to relegation, the allocation of the best seats on Europe's richest gravy train is the only significant matter at stake on Sunday.
United are favourites to secure England's second automatic spot and leave Liverpool to contest the third qualifying round of the continent's elite club competition.
Alex Ferguson's men have a one-point advantage over Rafael Benitez's side before the visit of Charlton Athletic, whom they will expect to beat at Old Trafford.
United will be without Wayne Rooney due to the England striker's foot injury and they will face a Charlton side determined to give manager Alan Curbishley an apt send-off in his final match after 15 years in charge.
United's Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar told MUTV he hoped the club's fans would help to push them over the line.
"We need them to get behind us like they always do and perhaps even give us a little bit more support to try to get us over the little blip we've had with the loss at Chelsea and the draw with Middlesbrough.
"It's important for both the club and the players especially after the World Cup because it wouldn't be good to have to play a qualification match after the tournament."
Liverpool visit Portsmouth who are in the mood to celebrate after their unlikely escape from the relegation zone, secured by a 2-1 win at Wigan last Saturday.
As well as quelling south-coast enthusiasm, Benitez's players will need to banish distracting thoughts of their FA Cup final date with West Ham on May 13.
Liverpool keeper Jose Reina admitted that would not be easy.
"It's normal my team mates and I are already thinking about the final but there's still a game left which we must try to win," the Spaniard said on Liverpool's official website.
"It's difficult to think about the Portsmouth game when you know even if you win it's going to be very difficult to finish second.
"We are close to United but we have to be realistic. They will play at home and we know how strong they are at Old Trafford."
LAST LAUGH
Tottenham Hotspur will have a nervous wait to see if they will take the final Champions League qualifying spot, even if they have already sealed fourth place by the time of their visit to West Ham on Sunday.
North London rivals Arsenal must avoid defeat at Manchester City on Thursday to keep alive their hopes of pipping Spurs by winning at home to Wigan Athletic on Sunday.
Even if Arsenal fail, though, they could have the last laugh.
If Arsene Wenger's team beat Barcelona in the Champions League final on May 17 they will take England's fourth Champions League place as holders next season, with Spurs having to make do with the UEFA Cup.
Sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers and West Ham, by virtue of reaching the FA Cup final, have already booked England's two other UEFA Cup places.
Newcastle's hopes of qualifying for Europe were dashed by Rovers' win over Chelsea on Tuesday. That, together with the curtailment of Alan Shearer's final season by injury and Chelsea's title win, means Sunday's visit of the champions to St James' Park has lost its edge.
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