Conlan isn't one for omens, but the feel-good factor that returned to Irish boxing last weekend is one to feed off and he is excited to get back to his old self this weekend when he steps up to super-featherweight to face Gill.

"I try not to feed into superstitions as I think it's a weak mindset, but last week I took a lot of inspiration from Katie," he said at Thursday's final press conference at Belfast's Europa Hotel.

"I thought she was fantastic and now I'm looking forward to my own performance and I'm actually excited about performing.

"I'm looking forward to a good night and I think it will be a fantastic one."

There were wholesale changes for the Belfast man in the wake of his cursing loss to Lopez - the second time he came up short in world title fights having come agonisingly close against Leigh Wood last year.

Replacing Adam Booth as head coach is Cuban guru, Dr Pedro Diaz whose track record of success speaks for itself.

He feels he is in as good a place as he has been in some time and that will show in his performance this weekend that will make a statement of his intentions moving forward.

"I'm in a good place mentally and physically, the best place I've been in for a long time," said Conlan who turned 32 recently.

"I'm really excited about fight night rather than just being excited for it to be over and having the win. This time I'm really looking forward to the actual fight as I think I'm going to put on a destructive performance.

"I know Jordan and know he's a good fighter. He has skills and is a smart boxer when he wants to be. If you're not on your game, Jordan will beat you.

"Going to Miami and training with Pedro, I feel like I've a new lease of life. It feels like we've hit the reset button. Over the eight weeks (in camp) he's just dusted me off and brought me back to doing what I do best, so that's why I'm excited about the performance and putting in what we've been doing in the ring on fight night."

If Conlan is fighting for his career, as his new promoter Eddie Hearn stressed, then the same can be said for Gill whom is over 13 months removed from his last outing when he lost his European featherweight title to Kiko Martinez.

Both men have stepped up a division and both are well aware just what is at stake this weekend, but the Englishman insists the pressure is all on the Belfast man.

"I feel great as there's no pressure on me at all," he confirmed.

"I just look at it as a massive opportunity for me to put myself where I need to be, so I'm buzzing and ready to go.

"I'm feeling the benefits of it (moving up to super-featherweight), feeling strong. It will be nice not to be on the scales and look like a skeleton like I did at 126.

"Looking back, I probably should have moved up three or four years ago."

Conlan vs Gill tops a card littered with 50-50 bouts including the eagerly-anticipated 'Battle of Belfast' between welterweights Tyrone McKenna and Lewis Crocker, plus a light-middleweight showdown between Caoimhin Agyarko and Troy Williamson.