Kevin Mitchell and Ricky Burns will cast their friendship aside when they meet for the WBO world lightweight title on September 22.
Burns will make the second defence of his crown at the SECC in one of the most eagerly- awaited domestic showdowns of recent times.
He was outstanding in his clinical victory over Michael Katsidis – who flattened Mitchell inside three rounds – but the challenger has since revived his career with a thrilling win against John Murray.
The respect between the British rivals is gen-uine and has developed into a friendship that Mitchell insists will be a distant memory once hostilities commence.
"You can't beat Ricky's personality, he's a lovely man and a mate of mine," the 27-year-old from Dagenham said.
"That doesn't make it harder when you're in the ring, but it makes it harder when you're promoting the fight. But once we get in the ring we fight, that's our job."
Burns, who will continue his part-time job at a local sports shop in Coatbridge during training, is equally ruthless.
"Once we step into the ring the friendship is over, this is business time," Burns said.
When the pair sparred in London last year, Burns came out on top, but Mitchell said: "I wasn't fit, he was, and got the better of me. He was too fit and strong at the time."
He added: "Since the Katsidis fight I've never looked back.
"I can't get up for normal fights, I want big names and big names only. They're the ones that deliver the big money.
"Ricky Burns generates more money than any other fight in this country so that's why I'm fighting him."