The moment of truth. Ulster await their finest hour, and the possibility of sporting immortality to list among the pantheon occupied by the 1948 Irish Grand Slam team, and the heroes of the 80s. Only 80 minutes to go now.
How to put it in context? Maybe not to be ranked with Grand Slammers and Triple Crowners, but pretty much the next best thing - perhaps even putting Munster's 1978 win over the All Blacks in the shade. At the very least it would be the best day in Irish rugby for almost 14 years, and as an occasion nothing betters it since the 1991 World Cup quarter-final.
To start with the blindingly obvious, this is no ordinary rugby match. It's such a unique pairing, and such a unique occasion, with so many auxiliary factors, that you really couldn't envisage how it will pan out. A classic, or an anti-climax, culminating in either Ulster's name on the trophy, or Colomiers as party poopers?
Ulster have played out of their skins, both collectively and in nearly every case, individually, upping their level of performance with each passing game and challenge. You'd almost expect them to do so again. It's a once-in-a-lifetime game and so perfectly have Harry Williams and the players struck the right note between fired up aggression and self-discipline, that this special day could inspire a once-in-a-lifetime performance. These Ulster boys don't seem to be rabbits-in-headlights material.
Tactically, Ulster look the more predictable, if no less effective for all that. Allowing for an occasional exception, they have been eschewing the in-vogue tactic of penalties for touch with a simpler philosophy of when in the opposition half, have a pot at goal, whether through the talismanic Simon Mason or the little genius David Humphreys, be it penalties or drop goals, and then regroup.
This has been the case particularly early on, with Ulster striking first in all but one of their seven-game winning run en route to this final - and often inside the first three or four minutes. Borrowing a leaf from the old Jack Charlton manual, they seek to put the opposition under pressure early and often, both on the scoreboard and on the pitch.
The tackling and fast-up, four-up midfield defence has been exceptional, ensuring they've hardly even been tested out wide.
The line-out has been a reliable platform for front foot assaults, if not so much the scrum. Indeed, buoyed by the comforting knowledge that Mason is a peerless kicker, it's been extraordinary how often these Ulster forwards have augmented their work-rate around the pitch by taking the opposition on and spending so much time on the front foot.
The halves, and especially Humphreys, will probably play a mostly kicking game - territorially Ulster have been extremely cute so far. Beyond this quite patterned game, they'll have two or three moves which they might use. If they do most of this right again, especially the scoring first part, and if Mason and Humprheys are their accurate selves, then the favouritism tag might sit better than it generally does on Irish sides.
That traditional mental flaw, particularly when coupled with the additional hype which has surrounded this game, is still a concern. But it's justified for one simple reason, this is effectively a home final - with the Ulster camp perhaps only realising in the last 48 hours how much the nation is rooting for one province. And in every knock-out game so far, the home team has won.
Not that Colomiers aren't potentially dangerous. Disconcertingly, they seem to be especially strong in areas where Ulster are vulnerable. Stephane Graou is an old-fashioned tight-head, a specialist scrummager in a unit which gave Munster some considerable trouble.
Whether off a mightily effective driving line-out or scrums, their back row is their most prolific weapon - accounting for 10 of their 25 tries so far. The Colomiers flanker Patrick Tabacco was moved up and down the line on both throws to productive effect much like Munster use Eddie Halvey. Tabacco, along with Fabien Galthie, were declared fit to start yesterday afternoon, though centre Mickael Carre wasn't.
Admittedly, beyond the line-out maul there wasn't a whole lot else to Colomiers' game in the semi-final, and repeated video viewings have led Ulster to believe they play a very structured game. Laurent Labit is hailed as a top-notch place-kicker, but he surely cannot be better than Mason, and in the quarter-final missed three eminently kickable penalties to put everyone out of their misery in a scoreless second half.
Indeed, it'll be interesting to see how Colomiers cope mentally. In that intemperate quarter-final, they were guilty of regular and costly acts of foul play. But they do have their leaders, a certain Jean-Luc Sadourny as well as Galthie, back in harness.
Furthermore, that could spark more of a return to the brand of 15-man rugby which Tom Kiernan yesterday hailed as the highlight of the Euro season last year when they overwhelmed Agen 43-5 in the Shield final. Against that, Sadourny probably isn't back to his best yet, and they seem to be carrying a few walking wounded.
Colomiers are something of a throwback to the French club scene of the 70s, and no less than Ulster, their esprit de corps has been a significant factor in an equally improbable fairytale. Only 1,200 will come from their dormitory town overshadowed by neighbouring Toulouse in support of this young club, along with 3,000 other French visitors.
Asked yesterday if he felt any sympathy for the outnumbered Frenchman at a thickly attended press conference, Humphreys smiled mildly incredulously, and remarked: "To feel sympathy is a bit strong. I've been to France a few times when the crowd's been fairly partisan so it's nice to have the tables turned for once."
Yes, indeed, the biter being bit is a salivating prospect. Rare indeed is the occasion when the heart so over-rules the head, but the uniqueness of the occasion, and an atmosphere which may make a Five Nations match akin to a tea party, must be a factor.
If Ulster are in touch with 20 minutes to go, then surely the crowd can help carry them home.
