Preston North End pair Andy Boyle and Daryl Horgan could make their international debuts this evening as the Republic of Ireland host Iceland in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium.
The duo both arrived at Deepdale in January from League of Ireland champions Dundalk, and while Boyle had to wait a little longer than Horgan to break into Simon Grayson’s team, both have impressed with their performances in the Championship so far.
Horgan was an unused substitute with Boyle not involved for their nation’s goalless draw against Wales on Friday night. North End teammate Aiden McGeady came on for the final ten minutes of that World Cup qualifier.
However, manager Martin O’Neil is set to hand maiden international minutes to some players in tonight’s match, with Boyle and Horgan among four uncapped members of the squad.
"There will probably be a few players who will get their first taste of international football,” O’Neil told the BBC. "They will have the opportunity to press a claim for future appearances.”
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game,O'Neill continued: "You don't want to give out caps just because they are there, you want them to earn it. But for experience, you would want that.
"Some players who have just come into the squad - like the two lads at Preston - have acquitted themselves very well in training and they are basically just starting out in their international careers."
John O’Shea, Jonathan Walters, Glenn Whelan, Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy wont play in the game, meaning the 23-man-squad is now down to 18 and the uncapped PNE duo will at least be among the substitutes for the game.
McGeady, meanwhile, will become the joint-eighth most capped Ireland player if he is involved in the game, going level with Tony Cascarino on 88 appearances.