Lord's has hosted many memorable encounters over the years, but Wednesday's meeting between the counties and the ECB executive promises to rival the best of them for ferocity and, in its way, significance.
The chairmen and chief executives of all 18 counties and the MCC are meeting to discuss their options for the future shape of the domestic T20 competition in England and Wales. It is no exaggeration to state that the conclusions reached could amount to the most significant changes to the face of England cricket since the introduction of limited-overs cricket in 1963 or the birth of professional T20 cricket in 2003.
On one side you have those who insist a new T20 tournament featuring eight city-based teams is essential if cricket is to recapture the interest of the general public. On the other, you have those who warn that such a move will marginalise several first-class counties and further decrease the visibility of the game in the market towns and small cities where it is still relevant.
The issue of free-to-air broadcasting and the value of potential broadcast deals will also be relevant. Some counties are incredulous at the difference in value placed on the options by the ECB's 'independent' broadcast analysts. Some insist that free-to-air is essential if the game is to return to relevance in the public consciousness.
It seems unlikely the consensus the ECB executive seeks will be reached today. They were hoping to agree one of the five options they set before the counties a few weeks ago with a view taking it to the ECB board for approval in October. But, with counties still asking for more information about the details and several insistent that their members have to be consulted, not enough seem ready to commit.
Indeed, as they consider the implications of a city-based tournament - and as their members learn of those implications - it seems support for a two division tournament featuring all 18 teams has grown once more. This was the original recommendation of the ECB working party charged with looking into options a year or two ago, but it was subsequently shelved after concerns that it might limit the opportunity for lucrative local derbies.
But a suggestion made by Glamorgan could offer a solution. ESPNcricinfo understands that they have put forward a plan whereby the T20 season would start with a weekend of local derbies - double-headers if necessary - that do not have any connection with the competition. While it is not a perfect solution - the issue of who would host such games is one problem - it may be enough to convince the waverers.
One of the primary concerns is the implication to all other cricket by trying to create a July window for the new T20 tournament. The counties are worried that either the Championship will be diluted by the absence of around 100 of the best players, or that it will not be played at all for a month.
ESPNcricinfo understands a suggestion has been made about cutting the Championship season to as few as 10 games - featuring three divisions of six teams - to make space for the new T20 competition while even Mike Fordham, the man hired by the ECB to launch the new competition (he fulfilled a similar role with the IPL and the CPL) has warned against comparisons with the BBL. Research has shown a tournament based in eight Test-hosting cities in England and Wales would cover only 25% of the population compared to 65% in Australia cover by the six BBL-hosting cities.
While NatWest Blast attendances have risen by more than 60% since the introduction of a predictable schedule (generally on Friday nights) three years ago, it is ironic that many of the potential hosts of the eight-team tournament have seen ticket sales stall in recent times.
Hampshire's have grown by just 1% in that time (and dropped in 2016) while Lancashire's have grown by 3% and again shrunk in 2016. Yorkshire's and Durham's attendance figures also fell in 2016. It may well grate on those counties where attendances have increased sharply - Northants, Gloucestershire, Essex and Worcestershire, for example - to forgo their place in the premier T20 competition to those who have failed to seize the format's potential as well.
If the ECB executive force a vote - and it seems unlikely they will take such a chance - it is far from certain they will win. And if they lose, it may well be that the resignation of the ECB chief executive and, perhaps, its chairman are requested.