England Cerebral Palsy captain Gary Davies has challenged his team-mates to take his armband as the Three Lions look ahead to the World Cup.
The tenacious defender has admitted that at 32 his days on the international scene could be numbered, but the determined Davies has his eyes on leading England at November's showpiece event in Brazil - unless someone can knock him off his perch.
"I'm 32 - people need to be knocking on my door," said Davies, who led England at last summer's European Championship in Dublin. "At my age I don't take anything for granted, but we will have to wait and see."
Captaining your country at any level is a huge honour and having worn the armband, Davies is reluctant to give it up without a fight.
"I'm hopeful of being captain," he insisted. "I have captained them in two tournaments. There are no words to describe it. My parents came out to Dublin, and I scored the winner with 13 seconds left against Spain in our last game. It was fairytale stuff. It hurts when I lose, more so when you lose for your country, but the victories are a little bit sweeter. Your first cap is fantastic, wearing the armband too - but you do feel the pressure."
Davies was at Lilleshall last weekend for a two-day training session ahead of friendlies with Finland and Holland next month - games which will help the players get tuned up for the World Cup.
"We played Finland in Dublin, I think we beat them 2-0," he recalled. "It could have been more and should have been more. Holland are a nemesis - I don't know why. Technically, as a man, we are as good. Fitness-wise we sometimes struggle. We will probably meet seven full days a year, they will meet 45 days a year."
Trying to compete against a side who meet up seven times more than you do is hard enough, but Davies believes there is another problem which is hampering England's progression.
"We need to get more players in," said Davies, an England player for the last six years. "One in 400 in England have Cerebral Palsy. Obviously you'd have to minimise that with age, gender and whether they like football, but that's still a lot of people who are not being tapped into.
"A lot of people don't class themselves as disabled and play able bodied football. They would probably not dream of playing for a disabled team. It's breaking down those social barriers - that's one of the hardest things."
Davies readily admits that people are perhaps unaware of the England CP team, or that people with the disability are unwilling to sign up to the team.
But for those who do, the rewards are excellent, culminating in a trip to Brazil in the autumn to contest the sport's top prize.
"We get some good trips," said Davies, grinning broadly. "It's fantastic when you are away. It's an example of how a pro' footballer lives. You wake up then play or train. It's a nice life."
The life of an England footballer abroad is an enviable one, but Davies knows that when the serious business comes along, there is one team to look out for.
"Ukraine - they are three times Paralympic champions," he explained. "They are relentless. Nice guys, but they are machines. They are so comfortable playing in any position. Closer to a competition, they train every day. You can't compete with that. That's professional. In one-off games, anyone can beat anyone.
"We only lost 1-0 to them in 2003. We played a defensive game and never looked like scoring, but what do you do? They knock 11 past teams."
For England to upset a country unbeaten in 12 years would take something special, but the Three Lions have made huge strides in the last few years since The FA got involved.
Regular training sessions, doctors, physios and a new professional outlook have allowed England to move up the ladder but Davies insists there is a long way still to go.
"There has been a real improvement since I've been involved," he said. "Professionalism has come into it.
"I do my gym work back home at a local uni. I have my own personal instructor. It feels a bit weird. I'm 32 - it's the first time I have done weights! It's moving in the right direction. There are some younger lads - Jordan the keeper is only 16 - I wish I was in their shoes. It's all about getting the right structure for the players coming in."
If you are over 14 years old, have CP, play regular football, and want to play for England, then The FA CP Management Team wants to hear from you. Please contact Andrew Hailwood, Team Manager, on 07984 003469, or at Andrew.Hailwood@TheFA.com.