Northern Ireland are looking to pull off the improbable by beating Holland and Germany in the next four days to book a place at Euro 2020.
The Group C surprise package is hot on the tails of the European giants and will move level with the Dutch if they win their showdown in Belfast on Friday (9.45pm).
It will be a massive task to beat Ronald Koeman’s star-studded group leaders and then having to do it all over again when they go to Frankfurt on Tuesday to tackle the four-time world champions.
But they will have all the motivation they need to make it to their second Euro tournament in a row as they look to give Stoke-bound coach Michael O’Neill the best possible send-off.
OUTGOING: Michael O’Neill. Picture: David Cerny/Reuters.
O’Neill qualified them for the 2016 edition in France, where they were knocked out by Wales 1-0 in the Round of 16.
And ahead of the coach’s final home game in charge, Aberdeen winger Niall McGinn says: “It’s going to be an unbelievable
atmosphere.
“He will keep working hard but I’m sure it will be a bit of a distraction with him being the Stoke manager as well.”
“We know Saturday is going to be a nice send-off for him with it possibly being his last home game.
“All in all, it’s down to us as players to carry on as usual, keep working hard behind the scenes and look forward to these big games.
“We just have to go out on the pitch and worry about putting in a good performance for ourselves, for the fans and for Michael as well.”