Matt McKay will cherish the time he has left to run around on the Suncorp Stadium turf but says he is already thinking about what it will be like to watch his Brisbane Roar as a fan.
The retiring skipper will play his second-last game - a club-best 271st - against the Newcastle Jets on Saturday.
Both teams are out of finals contention after the Jets' 1-0 loss to Perth last weekend but McKay's departure has given the dead rubber plenty of meaning.
A two-time title winner at Brisbane, the 36-year-old says its been a privilege to spend a bulk of his career at the club and hopes to witness a return to the glory days.
"It's a tremendous stadium, especially when we fill it out," he said.
"I'd love our team to be back there and me be in the crowd to watch them win more titles ... when it's full it's immense."
McKay hopes his work rate, astute passing game and brave approach rub off on the Roar's next generation and, while already coaching at school level, says it'll be hard to adjust to life after football.
"(I'll miss) just being involved in the change room, having teammates, talking in the morning," he said.
"Just being around the team and swapping stories ... the day-to-day will be what I miss the most and that pressure of playing in front of a crowd."
The Asian Cup winner will call time after the Anzac Day clash with Adelaide United in a four-win season that has seen the demise of coach John Aloisi.
The Jets are looking ahead too, with 19-year-old Angus Thurgate at the opposite end of his career and fresh off a maiden A-League goal.
"He's willing to give us a chance," Thurgate said of coach Ernie Merrick's approach to youth this season.
"All we have to do is keep earning his trust and doing that by good performances."
An Eric Bautheac double got the Roar by Wellington last weekend to end a run of four losses, while they drew 2-2 with the Jets earlier this year.
"They've struggled a bit this season but had a great game against Wellington last week and I guess they're in a similar position to us trying to finish the season positively and start building for next year," Thurgate said.