Nicola Sturgeon's experience in the televised independence debates will help her outwit David Cameron in Thursday's general election showdown, SNP strategists believe.
The Prime Minister famously refused to take part in a head to head before last September's referendum.
His stance led then First Minister Alex Salmond to describe him as a "big feartie".
Now SNP insiders believe that the experience the current SNP leader developed during that campaign, and other Scottish elections, will stand her in good stead.
A source predicted Ms Sturgeon would keep her cool and remain above the fray while Mr Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband would become "shrill and shouty".
"She has a lot of experience that David Cameron, because of his position (on the indy ref), does not have," an insider said.
Labour accused the SNP of "arrogance".
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "This is the kind of breath-taking arrogance we've come to expect from the SNP, post match analysis before a ball has been kicked or a question has been asked."
ITV have released a complicated grid for who will speak and when during the debate that shows that David Cameron will get the last word.
The Prime Minister will be the only one of the party leaders not to answer a question first.
But he has received the prime spot of going last when it comes to the final pitch to voters.
Natalie Bennett, the leader of the Greens south of the border has been drawn to go first, telling voters why they should back her party.
That will be followed by a series of four questions from the studio audience.
Ms Sturgeon will be first to answer the penultimate question.
Lots were drawn to decide the order in which the leaders will stand from left to right, with Ms Sturgeon next to Mr Cameron on the right hand side.
The other party leaders taking part include Nick Clegg for the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood.
The two-hour marathon debate, from 8pm to 10pm, is designed to allow every leader to give an uninterrupted one-minute answer to each of the four questions.
Their performances will be judged in front of a studio audience of around 200 people, but potentially millions of extra voters at home.
There will be up to 18 minutes of debate on each question.
The party leaders will not see the questions in advance, which have been selected by an "experienced editorial panel".
Polling company ICM has chosen the "politically-balanced" audience, with around 20% said to be undecided voters.
There will be one commercial break during the two-hour broadcast, ITV added.
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