THEY are the men who hold the destiny of the Champions League very much in their hands yet not their own futures.
The goalkeepers who could finish the season as kings of Europe but find themselves deposed before they play another game.
Thats why todays showdown between two of world footballs true giants could mean far more than a winners medal for Loris Karius and Keylor Navas, as huge as it would be.
It could ultimately mean the difference between Jurgen Klopp and Zinedine Zidane putting a red line through the words new goalkeeper or moving it to the top of the wanted list.
To be honest, little more than six months ago youd have got fair odds on either keeper still being first choice at their respective clubs, let alone being involved in club footballs biggest game.
Karius was still struggling to command a regular place two seasons into his Anfield career after a string of less-than-convincing displays.
And at Real, Navas had to sit and suffer as the Spaniards fluttered their eyelashes at David de Gea, Allison Becker and Athletic Bilbaos Kepa Arrizabalaga.
So it says much about both players strength of character that they have shrugged off all the doubts to nail down their respective positions thus far.
CHICKS IN KIEV The Liverpool and Real Madrid Wags lighting up Kiev
But that is all it is. Thus far. There are no guarantees beyond that which is why an impressive performance on domestic footballs greatest stage is so important.
A new keeper may no longer be Klopps No 1 summer targets, but it remains on the list.
Jack Butland has long-been of interest, Tom Heatons unsettled position at Burnley has attracted interest, and Romas brilliant Brazilian Alisson is also well fancied.
Of course Karius cannot let any of that distract him from the job in hand and, given what he has emerged from already, he will manage that easily enough.
After all, this is a guy who began the season being rotated with Simon Mignolet in the league and cup clashes, and only became definite first choice in January.
When Klopp finally sided with one clearly above the other, it came with a warning that Karius had to take his chance.
He has managed it impressively so far, yet there have still been occasional wobbles. He can afford none in Kiev.
Costa Rican stopper Navas would already have been a name of the past if the paperwork for a deal to bring de Gea to the Bernabeu had gone through moments earlier in August 2015.
Navas has had to convince the sceptics virtually from day one, after ousting a cult hero in Iker Casillas who many fans wanted to see keep the job.
At times he can still look a total novice, but is also capable of jaw-dropping brilliance, like the string of stops he made to deny Bayern Munich in the home leg of the semi-final.
That performance was seen by many as one of the finest by a Real keeper in years but still the doubts and rumours persist.
Cristiano Ronaldo cuts cameraman with wild shot - then gives him his jacket as an apology, ahead of Champions League final vs Liverpool in KievJust as they do with Karius. For every fingertip save like the worldie which denied Newcastles Mo Diame in March, there can be a dropped cross or near post clanger.
Karius wont need telling that the last two Liverpool keepers to win in Europe - Sander Westerveld in 2001 and Jerzy Dudek in Istanbul - were replaced the following summer.
And Ray Clemence, arguably the greatest Kop keeper of all, played his last game in the 1981 European Cup final against Real Madrid, as Bruce Grobbelaar took over.
So it might not need a penalty shoot-out for Karius or Navas to have wobbly legs in this particular Euro final.
Woe betide either if that proves the difference between victory and defeat.