The day that families and friends of the Bali nine duo have long dreaded appears to be approaching, with preparations for their transfer to "execution island" close to complete and Indonesia's president rebuffing suggestions he was reconsidering his position.
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran still have a legal appeal in the works and the date for the transfer and execution remains unknown, but Indonesian authorities said they were now waiting for little more than orders from Jakarta.
"Everything will be ready on Sunday," the head of Central Java corrections, Ahmad Yaspahruddin told Fairfax Media, as he oversaw the finishing touches on the mens' isolation cells at Nusakambagan island's prison complex on Saturday.
Despite media speculation, a transfer this weekend won't happen, Indonesia's attorney general HM Prasetyo told Fairfax Media. But a move in the next few days remains possible and there is no change in heart in the Indonesian government's hardline stance on the executions.
On Friday, Indonesian president Joko Widodo vowed he will not bow to foreign pressure on the executions of Bali nine duo, in his first comments since his telephone call with Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday.
According to the business newspaper Kontan, which interviewed Mr Joko on Friday, the Indonesian leader disputed Mr Abbott's observation that he was "carefully considering" his position on the killings of Chan and Sukumaran.
"Our position is clear, our laws can't be interfered with," the paper quoted Mr Joko saying.
The remark comes after Indonesian parliamentarians and nationalist commentators had urged Mr Joko to clarify what happened when he spoke to Mr Abbott.
Mr Abbott had provided a glimmer of hope for Chan and Sukumaran when he appeared to suggest Mr Joko, known as Jokowi, was rethinking his hardline stance.
"The President absolutely understands our position, absolutely understands our position and I think he is carefully considering Indonesia's position," he told reporters on Thursday, describing Mr Joko as his "friend".
As the transfer of the men from Kerobokan prison loomed, Sukumaran's mother Raji made her regular visit to the penitentiary on Saturday, accompanied by Australia's consul in Bali Majell Hind.
Chan's brother Michael also visited, accompanied by friends and supporters.
Other members of both families have returned home, drained after a roller-coaster month of high emotion.
They plan to return soon, and will have 72 hours notice before any execution. They will also be allowed to visit the pair at Nusakambangan.
Six of the eight other drug felons slated to be killed alongside the Australians are already at Nusakambangan in a mass execution featuring 120 police sharpshooters, 12 for each victim.
Silvester Obiekwe, a Nigerian heroin trafficker who angered authorities by continuing to run a drug syndicate while behind bars, was transferred there on Thursday.
The local undertaker Suhendro Putro, meanwhile, said he was on standby to receive a text from police when the coffins were required and each would be picked up by an ambulance.
Amid the despair, there was good news for Sukumaran.
He has been awarded an associate degree in fine arts from Curtin University in Perth.
Sukumaran was due to finish his bachelor of fine arts, which he was completing via correspondence from Kerobokan jail, by the end of this year.
However Curtin University confirmed he had already accrued enough points to be awarded an associate degree.
"It's just unreal, it's so unreal," said his friend and mentor Ben Quilty.
"He deserves this in so many ways and for so many reasons."
Both Chan and Sukumaran, organisers of the Bali nine heroin smuggling syndicate, have reformed in prison, helping hundreds of Indonesian inmates and instigating numerous vocational and drug counselling classes.
