As players from both camps begin their preparations for the Tennent's Irish Cup final they could do a lot worse than listen to the words of one man who has been there, done that and bought the proverbial t-shirt.
Pat McAllister captained Coleraine the last time they lifted the famous old trophy back in 2003 with a 1-0 defeat of Glentoran, and was still club skipper twelve months later when they lost narrowly, again against the Glens.
Given that background, the current Sport & Leisure Swifts boss knows exactly what the players will be feeling right now.
"The build up to the game is always massive. The experienced players might be more used to it but, for the younger ones, it really doesn't matter how many appearances they've made this season, this is something different, and it can be mentally draining.
Then, on the big day itself, he has some simple words of advice: "It is important to play the game, not the occasion.
"I'd waited a long time for it, after losing in a few semi-finals. I was determined not to let the day pass me by.
"My biggest concern that morning was not to be late for the pre-match meal but, when we got to the ground, I just wanted to get out and get stuck into the game."
Jody Tolan grabbed the only goal of the game when the Bannsiders last won the competition and McAllister remembers only too well what it felt like when the final whistle went.
"It was a sense of total relief! I felt I had finally got that monkey off my back and that I had gone some way to repaying both the faith and the money that the people of Coleraine had invested in me.
"It was one of the best days of my life, something I'll never forget. The celebrations afterwards were fantastic and it cemented the bond within squad. We went from being team-mates to being friends."
However, McAllister was to experience the other side of the coin twelve months later when Glentoran exacted revenge. He didn't play on that occasion due to suspension but as club captain was still an integral part of the set-up: "I wasn't too bad on the day but, on the Sunday, it hit me really, really badly. I just wanted to blank it out. I felt I had let people down.
"The bus back to Coleraine for the meal after the game was completely quiet. I and others tried to lift the players, to remind them that it wasn't a life or death matter.
"It's important to remember life is full of disappointments and that it's only a game of football."
