Robert Green has played in some important matches in his career as a professional footballer.
From East Anglian derbies during his time with Norwich City through to representing his country, the West Ham United goalkeeper is used to turning out when the pressure is on. After producing another superb performance to help the Hammers gain a fine goalless draw at Liverpool last Monday, Green is relishing the club's next major assignment - a home Barclays Premier League clash with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur this evening.
"You want to play in big games," the 28-year-old confirmed. "The Liverpool game was a big game. Every game in the Premier League is a big game but this is a local derby. It'll be a quality occasion on a Monday night. The crowd will be electric and the fans will be baying for blood. Hopefully, in a football sense, we can give them it."
West Ham United and their next opponents have enjoyed a series of titanic battles at the Boleyn Ground over the past few seasons. In 2005/06, a late Yossi Benayoun goal denied Martin Jol's side a place in the Champions League. A season later, Tottenham's Paul Stalteri scored a heart-breaking added-time winner to send the home side spiralling to a dramatic 4-3 defeat.
Last term, it was Green himself who wrote the headlines, plunging to his left to keep out former Hammer Jermain Defoe's last-gasp penalty and earn a point for his side. The 28-year-old, who is expecting similar thrills and spills this time around, insists he and his team-mates will be fully charged up for what many supporters consider to be the club's biggest home fixture of the season.
"It's all about the recognition you give it. I made my debut in a Norwich v Ipswich game and, in a way, it was all a bit too much for me," Green admitted. "It's one of those occasions that get to you and you either feel ten feet or ten inches tall. That's why you're in professional football - I go out on the pitch and feel ten feet rather than ten inches tall. Hopefully it'll be a great game and I'm sure all the lads will be up for it."