Torquay United return to Vanarama Conference action on Tuesday night as their management team of Chris Hargreaves and Lee Hodges pit their managerial wits against a Barnet side managed by Martin Allen, a manager whom they both played under during their careers.
Gulls boss Hargreaves spent one season under Allen, also known by his nickname 'Mad Dog', at Brentford during the 2004-05 campaign, during which time the Bees reached the Play-offs in League One, where they were beaten by Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-finals, after finishing fourth in the league.
His assistant Hodges briefly played under Allen at whilst at Reading, when the current Barnet manager was assistant to Alan Pardew, before he was brought to Home Park by Paul Sturrock during the 2000-01 season.
The match itself, which is being broadcast live on BT Sport, will be the Gulls' first visit to the Hive, Barnet's new ground, which they moved to at the start of last season, and the occasion will rekindle memories of many previous encounters between the two sides at Underhill- including the final day decider between the two sides in the 2000-01 season, which Torquay won 3-2.
Nevertheless, after experiencing six losses in their last seven in all competitions, the Gulls will be looking to arrest that decline; and if they are able to do so on Tuesday night it could prove to be an encounter as equally memorable as that May day meeting at Underhill in 2001.
