There is a sense of eager anticipation around Vicarage Road; a hopeful tendril of expectation that swirls its way from the crowd to the players, snaking into every last corner of the stand.
This is, no doubt about it, a very exciting time to be a Watford fan - and as Quique Sanchez Flores' side prepare to host Chelsea in the Premier League on Wednesday night, we are set for another treat from these two highly competitive sides.
A window to the future
The Hornets got busy during January's transfer window, making five signings - including those of Abdoulaye Doucouré from Ligue 1 club Rennes, and Adalberto Peñaranda from La Liga side Granada FC, both on Deadline Day. Watford also managed to capture Mario Suarez from Fiorentina in Serie A, ex-Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, and Nordin Amrabat from Malaga, in a display of intent and ambition from manager Flores.
This should be no surprise, as Watford have set about tackling this season with as much enthusiasm and competitive spirit that led them to be promoted from the Sky Bet Championship last campaign. As a result, they have defied all the critics' expectations - and probably, in all honesty, those of their own fans - with a free-flowing, attacking style of football that has been a joy to watch.
A minior slump of four straight league defeats - in two of which games the Hornets were unlucky not to take at least a point - slightly deflated the bubble of confidence surrounding Vicarage Road, but Watford are back with gusto after a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United two weeks ago, and a subsequent FA Cup fourth round 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
A step too far?
Now, on Wednesday, Flores' side look to go one better against a Chelsea side that held them to an exciting 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. Incredibly, the Hornets sit just four points off the top six and the European places, and are also four points ahead of Chelsea down in 13th: a sentance no journalist thought he would be typing post-New Year after last season.
Chelsea are having the most bizarre of Premier League campaigns, even in a season that has bewildered and dazzled in its obscure results and antics. Their astonishing slump down the table has only been recently steadied a little after the departure of Jose Mourinho and the arrival of Guus Hiddink, but they are still a long way off the leaders and have almost resigned themselves to using the rest of this season as an opportunity to right some faults and work on some weaknesses.
Long-term, they will look to be one of the big guns - ultimately firing once more - and sooner, rather than later. Still, despite the strange, limbo-like situation they find themselves in, Hiddink's side are a big threat and a danger to any Premier League side.
Finding their bite?
Arsenal found this out the Sunday before last, as a Diego Costa goal gave Chelsea a 1-0 win and all three points - and MK Dons felt the full force of the London club's attack in the FA Cup fourth round this weekend. Hiddink's went through the gears and came out 5-1 winners: a nice boost of confidence before a game that promises to be, at the very least, a tough encounter for the Blues.
Watford wait, as prepared and organised as always, ready to spring another surprise. Yet this is a Chelsea side beginning to find their edge, and Wednesday might just prove too much to ask for this tough Hornets side.