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David Jeffrey has declared the title race over - but has also ordered the champagne to remain on ice.
The corks will only pop and the celebrations begin when Linfield cross the finishing line at Seaview on Saturday.
Jeffrey made a brave attempt to maintain a state of decorum after Saturday's 2-0 win at Mourneview Park which effectively climaxed a glorious 48th championship campaign.
It was pretty obvious that underneath he was bubbling as much as the legion of Bluemen who thronged the terraces nearest the dressing rooms hailing their heroes.
Jeffrey's was indeed an uncharacteristic statement because he rarely is seen to be taking anything for granted.
Having said that, he insisted there should be no partying and made the point there would be none ahead of the game with Crusaders.
Goals from Oran Kearney and Peter Thompson - his 41st club goal of the season and his 150th for the Blues - wrapped up the three points needed to effectively put the title out of Glentoran's reach.
The strikes extended Linfield's goal difference to a magical 50, seven more than rivals Glentoran.
Which prompted Jeffrey to declare: "It's over. It would take a monumental collapse for us to lose it."
And Jeffrey used the occasion and the platform to take a swipe at envious rivals when he rapped: "It has been interesting to listen to people talking about throwing down the gauntlet and putting us under pressure, but I have been blessed to be the manager of Linfield for 11 years and I've had pressure every week of every one of them.
"At Linfield we have learned to live with pressure and to cope and thrive on it.
"When it came to the crunch my lads produced another fully focused and professional performance.
"It was as comprehensive and professional as you will get. We responded tremendously well to all the challenges.
"My players were magnificent, absolutely superb and I'm very proud to have won three league titles in a row as their manager.
"However, I do want us to make the final push over the line against Crusaders on Saturday.
"There will be no partying until the job has been completed. We'll go into the game in a relaxed frame of mind to achieve our goal."
Jeffrey was in no mood either to give credence to claims that two dubious refereeing decisions had impacted the outcome.
Glenavon complained that two 'big calls' went against them, but Jeffrey dismissed the claims insisting: "That's absolute nonsense."
In the second minute Gerard McMahon's inswinging corner was caught in the wind and Alan Mannus fumbled.
The ball fell behind him to be cleared by Stephen Douglas with the help of Michael Gault.
Rival boss Terry Cochrane was convinced a goal should have awarded, but neither referee Mark Courtney nor his assistant responded.
Jeffrey hit back: "Television pictures proved conclusively that was not the case."
Glenavon also contested that the ball had crossed the byline before Jamie Mulgrew whipped it over for Kearney to power home a header for the opening goal in the 15th minute.
Again Jeffrey referred to the television pictures.
Cochrane moaned: "We're facing decisions like this every week because our referees and their assistants are not good enough.
"Two dubious decisions and we're beaten by a Linfield team which didn't impress me.
"But they are big and strong and have won the league so good luck to them."
There was no doubting Linfield's second in the 54th minute when Mulgrew's corner was headed back across goal by Paul McAreavey for Thompson to apply the lethal finish.
Linfield came and did what they had to do and today are worthy champions - or should that be champions in waiting.
