Wales stand on the brink of football history this week, with Chris Gunter admitting the pain of the past has driven them on in Euro 2016 qualifying.
Chris Coleman's side need only a point from their final two games, away to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday and at home to Andorra on Tuesday, but the 61-times capped Gunter says there have been too many near-misses in the past to take qualification for granted.
"This week feels different for some people looking in, but the routine is the same every time," Gunter said.
"We prepare the exact same way whether top or bottom of the group and we are not thinking beyond Saturday.
"We know the potential is there to get the job done on Saturday and then we'll look forward to Tuesday on Sunday morning.
"That's the aim for us and the focus of the week, because when we've had two games we haven't thought about the second one."
Gunter was a fan the last time Wales went close to qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since 1958, when Mark Hughes' side lost a 2004 European Championship play-off game to Russia.
But he had a glimpse of what it was like to reach a major finals when Wales held Belgium to a 1-1 Brussels draw in the final match of 2014 World Cup qualifying.
"I remember that experience and how Belgium celebrated getting to a finals, and now we've put ourselves in a position to do that," Gunter said.
"You try and sort of forget the disappointments because we all know what's happened in the past.
"I remember them as a fan and with every campaign comes those questions of getting to a major tournament.
"We're not the biggest nation but we probably should have done better than we have, certainly the teams I've been involved in, and for Welsh fans it's been real hard times over the years.
"So it's nice to be involved in the right sort of scenarios towards the end of the group and the fans can dream about what's coming.
"But our job is to focus on the game, we can't let our minds wander because it's too important."
Manager Coleman has all of his big hitters available for the Bosnia game in Zenica with Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen having recovered from a hamstring injury to join the likes of Ashley Williams, Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale.
Real Madrid forward Bale returned from nearly three weeks out after a calf injury last weekend when he played the final 24 minutes of the Madrid derby against Atletico.
Bale, who has scored six of Wales' nine goals in Euro 2016 qualifying, s aid on Monday at the Welsh football awards that he is ready to play in both qualifiers and Gunter feels it would be a brave manager who would deny him that opportunity.
"Gareth is here, he's fit and he's done the same as everybody else," Gunter said. "That's brilliant news for us and the gaffer.
"He's not looking at Tuesday night when we've got a game on the weekend.
"If he's fit and available it would be a brave man to tell him he's not playing on Saturday.
"If he's ready I'm sure he'll be involved and do what he's done in the rest of this campaign."
Source: PA
