Only a few weeks ago West Bromwich Albion boss Slaven Bilic felt his club's promotion prospects might be settled by committee rather than on the grass.
'It was only when the situation in Italy improved that I became more optimistic,' he reflects. 'Then when football resumed in Germany, it was a big boost.
'We were vocal from the beginning we would like to resume the season, even though promoting the top two would have suited us. We wanted to finish it on the pitch.'
Now Albion have their chance.