Even the most die-hard European golf fans are not exactly over-flowing with confidence at the prospect of Mark James carrying the Ryder Cup trophy on to the Concorde flight due to bring his team home from America next Sunday evening.
Indeed, such is the pessimistic tone of the continent's golfing media that it would hardly seem worth the Europeans bothering to turn up in Boston this week.
A gentle tea party it will not be. Never mind actually retaining the prized Cup.
Avoiding a humiliating mauling at the hands of the multi-millionaire American side would appear to be the best they can hope for. On the surface, it's difficult to disagree with that assessment. Some might even say it's foolhardy to do so.
Despite the unseemly wrangles over the rights of the American players to receive appearance fees, all statistical evidence points to an overwhelming triumph for Ben Crenshaw's team.
In public, European captain James and his 12 brave men are remaining upbeat. But deep down they, too, know that they will be up against it when they step into the lion's den that is The Country Club in Brookline on Friday.