SOME shrinks tell you the true test of high intelligence is an ability to hold two opposing thoughts in our head at the same time.
In which case, the average Scotland fan must have the brain of a super-computer.
Seeing as on days like these, we somehow manage to function while at once being overcome by unshakeable optimism, yet also feeling our guts being churned by a horrible sense of impending doom.
Between now and kick-off against Greece, millions of us will oscillate between believing we’ll get the famous win that sets us on the road to next summer’s World Cup finals and convincing ourselves that it’s all going to fall apart before our very eyes.
It’s how we are. It’s WHO we are.
And as we prepare for a game that’s in a bracket above even ‘must-win’, even that most rational of human beings who is Steve Clarke must be burdened by this sense of cognitive dissonance as he prepares for the third of six qualifying ties to take place in the space of no time.
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Because here he is, knowing victory might propel his remarkable story towards a wonderfully exciting new chapter, while being painfully aware that anything less could set the clock ticking towards his reign ending in an almighty anti-climax.
That’s what it’s come down to now for the national manager — four games, each a cup final.
Or, to put it another way, the kind of games where a man who has dragged us from the gutter to a place where we can almost touch the stars has so often fallen just a little bit short.
The World Cup play-off against Ukraine four years ago.
The six group games in successive Euros finals that he and his players worked so hard to get themselves into.
Even last time out against the Greeks back in March, when we were 1-0 up from the away leg of a relegation play-off in the Nations League, only to be horsed 3-0 in the return.
Overall, his legacy will be one of success, of progress, of happiness, of excitement.
But we can’t ignore the fact that far too often, when those words ‘must’ and ‘win’ have come into earshot, we’ve let ourselves down badly.
Tomorrow, his simply has to change.
Tomorrow, we just have to get the job done — and it really doesn’t matter how.
He can take the handbrake off and rip the Greeks to shreds, he can park the bus and we can score from our one breakaway, just as long as we come away with three priceless points that propel us further to the States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
The thought of that is beyond exciting.
It’s a dream that has kept us coming back since France 98, the one where this time really IS our time, even though reality always ends up shrugging that it knew we were kidding ourselves on.
Clarke has given us the best chance since the late, great Sir Craigy Broon — the man whose 71 games in charge he equals tonight — of finally making that dream come true.
If he does so, he wouldn’t just be the Scotland manager who hung around longest, but maybe the best of all time.
I desperately want that for him.
I want him and this hugely talented squad who have developed under his charge to go all the way to the World Cup.
And while I’m not going to say it doesn’t matter how we get on once we get there… well, for now, let’s just close our eyes and imagine the celebrations if and when we actually qualify.
In terms of the calendar, that party could be just around the corner.
In terms of the football to be played? Still light years away.
We still have to beat the Greeks tonight, then the Belarusians here on Sunday evening, then come back from Athens with at least a point.
If we do, though — and why not, with the talent we can call on — it’ll all come down to beating Denmark at home on November 18 to go through as of right.
And I’ll say it here and now — that’s a cup final I believe we WOULD win.
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The question is, will Steve Clarke and the boys get us into the position to do it?
Course they will. Though I also can’t help fearing the worst . . .
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