Wanniassa's Rennay Little had a tense 60 minutes after receiving an email saying her nine-year-old daughter, Paige, had been chosen to escort a player onto the ground for this Sunday's UAE v Qatar Asian Cup match at the Canberra stadium.
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Mrs Little, who moved to Canberra with husband Steven and their two children from Brisbane four years ago, was happy for Paige but knew that if her brother, Luke, 8, missed out on being a mascot he would be devastated.
Luke had started playing the round-ball game first and, over recent years, it has come to dominate his life. He plays before school, at lunch hour, after school and on weekends.
"There was some thought, for a very brief moment, that Luke Little might walk out onto the field under the name of Paige," Mrs Little said.
The arrival of a second email stating Luke had also got a guernsey spared the family from having to take such drastic steps. Mrs Little had, wisely, chosen to sit on the first email until the second arrived.
The two youngsters, both of whom play with the Woden Valley Soccer Club in winter and are currently playing futsal, a form of indoor soccer, with the South Canberra Football Club, were among hundreds from across the ACT who put their names down to act as "mascots" or player escorts during the tournament.
Children had to say why they wanted to participate. Paige said that even though it was her first season she really enjoyed playing and watching the game.
"I said that I would be really happy to see such exciting soccer," Luke said.
The young striker said being chosen to escort a player (he doesn't know the name or the team yet) onto the ground ahead of a match that would be televised worldwide and seen by millions was definitely the biggest thing that had happened to him.
Paige said it came a close second to her sister's recent engagement.
Mrs Little said the family were looking forward to a big weekend of soccer.
"On the Saturday we are going to watch the match between Korea and Oman at 4pm," she said. "Then it is UAE against Qatar at 6pm on Sunday."
Because the little Littles are a part of the action on the Sunday that is going to be a very big day for the family.
"We have to be at the venue two hours ahead of time," Mrs Little said. "They will get their uniforms and be instructed in what they have to do. Each child will escort an individual player out on to the field."
Mrs Little said neither she or Steven had ever expected to become soccer fans.
"We're more rugby union people," she said. "Then Luke started playing and now Paige is as well. It [Woden Valley] is a mixed team and they can play together, which is really good.
"Luke has been absolutely passionate about the game since he was five and he started playing because of school friends and the fact the club was close by."
The Littles have no regrets about moving south.
"We are here for good," Mrs Little said. "It is a great lifestyle; there is great sport, great parks and to have daylight saving is wonderful."
