Everton's Joleon Lescott made an England debut riddled with uncertainty against Estonia - and now seems set to undergo an even bigger test of nerve against Russia in Moscow.
And just to add to the pressure of playing in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier, the 25-year-old defender is being tipped to play in an unfamiliar left-back role.
If selected he will replace Ashley Cole, ironic because it was Lescott's hestitation that directly led to the Chelsea defender's ankle injury.
So is England coach Steve McClaren backing a wild hunch in selecting Lescott instead of his more experienced Everton team-mate Phil Neville or Reading's established left-back Nicky Shorey?
There is undoubtedly an element of a throw of the dice about Lescott's selection, but McClaren has been a keen observer of the elegant defender for some time and has received glowing recommendations from Everton manager David Moyes.
One criticism that can be aimed at McClaren is that he has passed up opportunities to use Lescott with England before, but now seems willing to test him in Moscow's hostile surroundings.
Fair point - but clearly he has seen enough to at least be considering a commendable show of faith.
England fans, however, should not be fooled by Lescott's tentative first steps in international football.
Lescott has proved himself to be an outstanding success since his £5m move to Everton from Wolves in June 2006.
He has pace, power, a sound temperament and the total respect of his Everton colleagues, who voted him their players' player of the year last season.
And this season he has turned a previously constant but unfulfilled threat at set-pieces into goals, hitting the target five times to make him one of the top scorers in England's current squad.
Lescott has overcome plenty of obstacles to build towards a well-deserved England opportunity.
No-one should question his character or stomach for a battle.
He fought for his life at the age of five after a serious car accident left him scarred, and knee problems meant he did not play a single game in Wolves' season in the Premiership four years ago.
Lescott is a composed central defender, but he has also been highly-accomplished at left-back for Everton.
He occupied the position for much of the second half of last season and occasionally this term, although the arrival of Leighton Baines - who has also impressed McClaren - has eased Everton's need to utilise him there.
Lescott's strength clearly lies in the defensive areas, the weakness may be on the offensive side.
He can be relied upon to keep it simple but effective, supporting Joe Cole but leaving the creative stuff to the Chelsea star.
Does this make him suitable for the Moscow mission? Yes it does.
In truth, Phil Neville has been in wretched form for Everton this season and Shorey's selection would also have been laced with an element of chance.
Lescott will give England presence in both penalty areas, and if he can overcome the nerves he understandably demonstrated on Saturday, then McClaren may just be on to a winner.
The other big selection dilemma facing McClaren is, once again, whether to select Frank Lampard in midfield.
McClaren had been expected to utilise Lampard in a 4-3-3 system alongside Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry - but reports from the training ground suggest he will use the more traditional 4-4-2, which would mean the exclusion of the Chelsea midfield man.
It would be the more conservative option to go for Lampard in a three-man midfield - certainly Barry should not be sacrificed - but the temptation has to be to stick with a system that has brought success.
Is McClaren right to consider playing Lescott? And should Lampard be recalled?
