For fans of Welsh sport, there is a huge amount riding on two fixtures today.
Wales’ football side play their penultimate World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein in Vaduz.
Kicking off just 40 minutes later, Steve Tandy’s rugby union side host Japan on more familiar territory at the Principality Stadium.
It will be the first time the pair have played on the same day since 13 October 2019, some six years, one month and three days ago.
On that occasion, Warren Gatland’s men secured a comfortable 35-13 victory against Uruguay at the 2019 World Cup in Japan before Gareth Bale’s equaliser earned Ryan Giggs’ side a 1-1 draw with Croatia in a Euro 2020 qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium.
And it is fair to say there is a huge amount at stake for both teams this time around too.
Neighbourly love
The two teams will be playing about 850 miles apart from one another, although they have spent the build-up to their respective fixtures in the same surroundings.
Both the football and rugby union sides train at the Vale Resort in Hensol, around a 20-minute drive away from the centre of Cardiff.
Naturally, there is regular crossover at the training site when both teams are housed in the plush facilities at the same time.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, rugby captain and hooker Dewi Lake wished the football side good luck for their contest in Liechtenstein.
Cardiff flanker Alex Mann spoke of his close relationship with Cardiff City winger Isaak Davies and his pride at seeing his childhood friend earning another senior call-up from Craig Bellamy.
“He’s been one of my best mates since I was young, so we’ve grown up in school together,” Mann said of Davies.
“It gives me goosebumps thinking about it. We were coming through and we always said to each other in class that we wanted to play for Wales, with him in football and me in rugby.
“For him to get a call-up on Sunday, he came to watch the game as well, it’s a massive honour for him – fingers crossed he gets an opportunity.
“From us being in Aberdare thinking about this being our dreams, it’s pretty surreal that we both get the chance at the same time.
“I’m just really proud of him to be honest. We’re similar people, we’ll keep our heads down, keep working hard and hopefully get opportunities.”
High stakes
A Wales win against Japan will almost certainly guarantee Tandy’s men a top-12 ranking for the World Cup draw on 3 December.
Defeat would see Japan rise above Wales in the rankings – leaving Tandy’s side with the daunting task of needing a victory over either New Zealand or South Africa later this month to return to the top 12.
So why is a top-12 ranking important?
The top six sides in the world rankings will be placed in band one for the draw and would therefore avoid playing each other in the pool stage.
Teams ranked seventh to 12th would play a maximum of one of the top six sides, so it all means if Wales drop further down the rankings than they currently are, they will have an even harder draw.
As for the round ball, top spot in Group J looks set to be beyond Wales’ reach, although there is a huge incentive to finish second – likely behind favourites Belgium.
Finishing as runners-up would ensure Bellamy’s side play at home in the World Cup play-off semi-finals next March, although ending in third would see them travel away for the one-off last-four fixture.
So how can they achieve second spot?
Two wins over the coming days – against Liechtenstein and then North Macedonia – will ensure Bellamy’s side finish second.
But four points will also be enough in the following two scenarios:
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If Wales draw with Liechtenstein and beat North Macedonia
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If Wales beat Liechtenstein by six or more goals and draw with North Macedonia
