Here it comes, the acid test. Saturday's eagerly-awaited collision at The Hawthorns brings together the fantasy and the reality of the First Division promotion challenge.
In the home corner is the reality. The journeymen challenge of Albion, a team who have gathered momentum on the back of a herculean work ethic and the inspirational input of key figures such as Lee Hughes, Ruel Fox and Derek McInnes.
And in the visitors corner we find the fantasy. The team who have become the envy of every other First Division side and probably a few in the Premiership to boot.
There isn't anyone in the country who doesn't think that Fulham, bankrolled by Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed, will win promotion to the top flight after their phenomenal first half to the season.
So can Albion pull off yet another surprise and win this third versus first culture clash?
Runaway leaders Fulham, nine points clear of their nearest challengers, start as favourites as they go in search of win No16.
The wealthy Londoners have assembled a squad big enough to grace the Premiership stage, players who would not look out of place playing at Elland Road, Anfield or Highbury and, in Jean Tigana, have one of the shrewdest managers in the country.
Oh! And they also have the country's leading scorer in Louis Saha.
But that will not change the way Gary Megson approaches this mouth-watering fixture.
After all, his never-say-die team have been proving people wrong all season and this is just another game in a long campaign.
While he accepts Saturday's game will provide him with a good yard stick as to the progress under his command, Megson insists it will not be a disaster should they fall at the hands of Fulham.
"After all, Fulham have more or less beaten everyone else," said the Albion manager.
"But we'll be giving it everything we have got.
"Fulham have got quality right the way through their team. They have bought a Premiership side to play in the First Division.
"Their manager, Jean Tigana, was a world renowned player and they have got one of the wealthiest people in the country running them.
"I personally don't see it as an acid test, but I'm sure there will be people out there who do."
Richard Sneekes, who has become a key figure since the long-term injury suffered by Derek McInnes, is one of several players in the final year of their Baggies contract.
And the Dutch midfielder cannot remember a bigger clash in the four-and-a-half-years he has been at the Hawthorns than the one facing the Baggies this weekend.
"This is a massive game - even without all the hype," said Sneekes, who has served under Alan Buckley, Ray Harford, Denis Smith and Brian Little since joining from Bolton.
"But we're used to playing big games at the moment.
"We've beaten Preston and Wimbledon while Watford and Bolton are both on the horizon.
"But we're one of the hardest working teams in the division and if we play as well as we know we can then we'll emerge from this difficult spell of games undamaged.
"Fulham are obviously a force at this level but we've got some useful results under our belt, and we're relishing the game.
"It should be Fulham who are nervous, not ourselves, because this Albion side are one of the best I have played in during my time here."
Certainly, Albion fans believe that they are witnessing some of the best football seen at The Hawthorns for a long time.
Saturday's match is expected to attract the third 20,000-plus gate to the venue this season. Not bad for a club who averaged just 14,584 last campaign.
It is a sign of the new found confidence now sweeping through The Hawthorns that so many are now keen to watch Megson's battlers.
"We knew we were in for a really tough physical battle. In the past we might have lost that kind of game but not now.
"The spirit in the camp is very good and you can tell by the way we play that the lads are enjoying their football.
"If we win on Saturday then we can look forward to Christmas, and I can't remember that happening too many times while I've been here."
Source westmidlands.com