The Munster rugby bandwagon will have an expected 40,000 supporters on board when it rolls into London today for the European Cup Final against Northampton.
It may have to carry the weight of favouritism too. But whatever the result, the Irish provincial champions look set to create one piece of rugby history, their huge support prompting organisers' predictions of a European Cup record 70,000 attendance at Twickenham.
The Munster team arrived in London on Thursday accompanied by a sizeable advance party of supporters whose numbers swelled yesterday, and thousands more will travel this morning. Over 70 flights from Dublin, Cork and Limerick were scheduled to arrive at London's four airports over a 48-hour period.
Some of the more enterprising travellers, unable to get direct flights, journeyed to the English capital via Edinburgh, Glasgow, and even Paris, from where some were catching the Eurostar to London. Limerick was quiet last night, but contrary to rumours there will be people left in the city today. A giant screen in the Arthur's Quay car-park will show the action from Twickenham and a programme of events including street theatre and a disco have been laid on.
Back in London, Limerick Radio will broadcast live from Molly Malone's pub in Richmond, two miles from Twickenham, from early morning today. Indeed, several watering holes in that area will become Irish bars for the day.
The Irish provincial champions enjoyed a walkabout at the stadium yesterday, availing of the opportunity to acclimatise themselves to their famous surroundings. At the ensuing press conference, Munster coach Declan Kidney deflected talk of favourite status and lightened the proceedings with his response to a query as to how the team had slept on the Thursday night.
"I didn't sleep with them," he quipped. "You have to draw the line somewhere."