Hull City manager Steve Bruce turned a blind eye to The FA Cup at his club's media day as superstition got the better of him.
Bruce's side takes on Sheffield United at Wembley on Sunday to decide which team will feature in the showpiece of English football on Saturday 17 May.
While confident defender Curtis Davies gave the coveted Cup a stroke as it was displayed ahead of the press conference, cautious Bruce decided not to tempt fate and banished it from the room.
Hull City v Sheffield United
The FA Cup with Budweiser Semi-Final
4.07pm, Sunday 13 April
Wembley connected by EE
Winners receive £900,000
Losing club receives £450,000
Live on BT Sport
"There are all sorts of superstitions and nonsense that come into it but I just didn't want to see it," said Bruce.
"I only want to see it in a couple of week's time at The Final and we have to get there first.
"We've got a big game ahead in the Semi-Final and I know everyone is excited because it is at Wembley and we haven't been there for so long but we have got to overcome Sheffield United first before we have any chance of winning the thing."
Sheffield United are currently 11th in League One while Hull are sitting pretty in the Premier League, comfortably clear of the relegation zone with full focus on the oldest tournament in football.
The former Manchester United defender, however, is wise enough to know that league form or status plays no part in these monumental occasions.
Bruce said: "It makes no difference, in my experience, with Semi-Finals; form, divisions, all of it goes right out of the window."
"It's who handles the occasion and who gets the little bit of luck or the bounce of the ball and I have been saying that since the competition started and I won't change now."
And on his opponents, he added: "Sheffield United have done fantastically well to get there - knocking out Premier League teams on the way - they've had a great run with a new manager who has galvanised them.
"They sold out their tickets within 24 hours so it is going to be a special occasion for them and of course a semi-final can throw up all sorts of unexpected things.
"It's how you handle the occasion and we hope we handle the occasion and we go in to win the game but I am sure Sheffield United are the same."
