Australia star Mark Viduka has pleaded with Middlesbrough to agree new deals with Dutch duo George Boateng and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink or risk the collapse of a team that could yet win two cups this season.
Boro are in the last four of both the FA and UEFA Cups, with midfielder Boateng and forward Hasselbaink each playing a key role alongside Socceroo striker Viduka in the north-east club's knockout progress.
However, the Dutch pair's contracts expires at the end of the season, with Hasselbaink admitting last week he was resigned to the possibility of plying his trade elsewhere.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren, whose team face Portsmouth on Saturday, has repeatedly made it clear how he believes Boro are a better team with the 30-year-old Boateng directing operations from midfield.
However, it is difficult to imagine how the club might let either man leave the Riverside after Wednesday's thrilling 4-2 FA Cup quarter-final replay win against Charlton, where Boateng was an influential figure and Hasselbaink scored his 16th goal of the season - and 12th since the turn of the year - to help set up a clash with West Ham for a place in the final.
"I'd definitely love to continue my partnership with Jimmy into next season," said the in-form Viduka, who took his tally to 15 with the fourth goal against Charlton - his seventh in his last eight starts.
"I enjoy playing alongside him, he is a great player, a great member of the squad and a good person to have in the dressing room.
"He is very positive, a born leader, and those sort of people you need in teams, while his finishing is second to none.
"He is a very dangerous player to have in the team, and it would be a great loss if he left Boro, and the same goes for George.
"We have a great bunch here. Even when times were bad earlier this season there was a great atmosphere and everybody stuck together.
"So we want to keep hold of all our best players because this team I hope is on the verge of great things."
And for Viduka who, either side of the Hammers match, will hope to be involved in the two-legged clash with Romanian outfit Steaua Bucharest for a place in the UEFA Cup final the chance to win a trophy - something he failed to do at Leeds - would be the culmination of a childhood dream.
"Just to experience a semi-final will be great. They are the games you want to be involved in," the 30-year-old said.
"As a kid in Australia I used to wake up early in the morning to watch the FA Cup final every year," added Viduka, who arrived on Teeside in a 4.5 million pounds move from Leeds in 2004.
"That was the only game that was live from England at the time, and I still remember many great moments when the games were played at Wembley.
"But to go all the way would be a boyhood dream because I never won anything at Leeds.
"My desire to finally win something is unbelievably great. That's what it is all about."
Viduka's current happiness is in marked contrast to the scene witnessed at the Riverside in February when he was seen arguing in the car park with an angry fan after Boro's 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa.
"I feel confident, happy, I'm enjoying myself, and that's what it's all about. That's why I play football because I love it," Viduka said.
"As for the goals, that's what happens," he added. "You go through a bad patch and then all of a sudden the floodgates open and you get plenty. Hopefully it will continue."