With almost every other day prompting the start of a fresh countdown to the 2012 London extravaganza, the athletes on the cusp of Games inclusion realise they are reaching the stage where any cruel twist of fate, whether self-induced, or in the thick of battle, will eliminate them from a place at the event. And there is little they can do, except trust their instincts, their competitive urge, and innate talent, and hope that it will be sufficient to gain the selectors' nod.
Niall Stott, the 31-year-old Dundonian, who is the sole Scot in the British hockey team, knows the feeling well and, as one of his country's leading players since the 2004 Olympics in Athens, you might imagine he would be more confident of his place than most. But no, or certainly not on the evidence of yesterday, when Stott quietly, methodically, laid out the reasons why this is the opposite of "a nice time" for those with aspirations to pursue medals later this summer.
"Everybody is on tenterhooks at the moment, because we train six days a week, we have dedicated our lives to appearing at the Olympics in what is the pinnacle of our sport. But although everybody wants to play, not everybody can play, and this is a nerve-racking experience for everybody in the GB squad," said Stott, who has represented Britain on 89 occasions, in addition to participating for Scotland at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games.
"We have just had a test event in London, and we are heading out to a tournament in Malaysia next week [May 18], but you just have to keep working and doing your best and focusing on the things which you can control. The squad won't be announced until mid-June, so it is going to be an anxious period for a lot of us."
With only 18 of the original 27-man squad making the cut, Stott's caution over his own prospects was understandable. Yet, in other respects, he was upbeat about the fashion in which Scottish hockey has signed a lucrative new sponsorship deal with Aberdeen Asset Management and clearly believes that the sport can enhance its profile in the years ahead, particularly if it can capitalise on an Olympic feel-good factor.
"We haven't gained the recognition we deserved in the past, considering how successful the British team has been in recent years [they are ranked fourth in the world], but there is definitely a sense that things are moving forward. It obviously helps that we have attracted such a big-name backer, because people will look at them and say: 'Well, if Aberdeen Asset Management are getting involved, the game must be moving in the right direction'," said Stott, who is currently playing for East Grinstead, and based in Marlow.
"This is a great opportunity for Scotland to build at all levels, whether encouraging more youngsters into hockey, or improving the standard of the clubs, and I am optimistic about the future, because I can see plenty signs of progress."
As a veteran of the Athens Games, and as somebody who relished Team GB's myriad victories in Beijing, Stott appreciates that these next few months will be manic. He anticipates even those who normally shy clear of sport, becoming gripped by patriotic fervour, amid the Olympic torch relay events, which will encompass every part of Britain.
"There is a lot of talk about how this could be the most successful ever Games for our competitors. I don't think many people have any notion just how massive the Olympics will be, not only for London, but throughout the whole country, once they are up and running," said Stott. "But, as an athlete, you have to try and ignore the hype, and our main job is to get picked, and then go out and be part of a winning side.
"It really is a case of concentrating on one game at a time, and, hopefully, if we perform to our potential, we can reach the semi-finals and then, anything can happen from there. What we can't afford to do is let the pressure affect us, or change the way we play. I'm not pretending that will be easy, because we have been looking forward to this event for years, and it is going to be the one chance for all the British athletes to take part in a home Olympics. But we have to do our utmost to stay grounded and prepare the best we possibly can and, if we manage that, the rest will pretty much take care of itself."
Stott sat out last week's test event, as did Barry Middleton, the British captain. But the emotion in his voice, as he talked about this looming Olympic campaign, offered an affirmation that he is unlikely to be absent once the torch has been ignited.