They will be the happiest duo if they win, and with them the rest of Malta, except probably the government and Public Broadcasting Services.

This is because, if Malta were to win tonight, the financial consequences of the victory might be devastating.

The cost of staging such a mega-event are enormous, and with the current financial situation in Malta – and at PBS – being what it is, the country can ill-afford to spend millions on just one night.

As an example, one can relate what happened to Ireland when this country won the contest three times in a row in the mid-1990s.

It was then rumoured that broadcaster RTE was on the verge of bankruptcy because of the costs.

With the show growing year after year – a semi-final was introduced in Istanbul this year, which meant a bigger participation and another show, held on Wednesday – winning would be more of a curse than a blessing for the country.

Last year, Estonia ploughed its entire tourism budget into staging the 2002 contest, at a cost of $26 million.

With the money recouped from participation fees, sponsorship and advertising and ticket sales, the event broke even.

Equally, the benefits to Ireland in terms of tourism outweighed the costs, and there was little real truth to fears over RTE’s expenses during the 1990s.

One story suggested that the contest had resulted in the company’s entire light entertainment budget being used up, a story that has been repeatedly denied.

Yet, it is true that the organisation of such an event needs a heavy financial investment. Can Malta afford to spend $26 million, if not more?

Well, let’s not jump the gun and wait for tonight first.