MANAGER Heimir Hallgrimsson has warned his Ireland players to be up for the fight tonight.
Despite a mistake by Nathan Collins that led to a Finland opener, Hallgrimsson claimed his first win as boss in Helsinki last month and hopes for his second against the same opposition in Dublin.
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The 57-year-old will have to make enforced changes after injuries to Chiedozie Ogbene and Robbie Brady since last month’s window
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Much will fall on Nathan Collins’ shoulders to lead Ireland in the air both defensively and at attacking set-pieces
But he insisted: “It’s going to be a fight for the likes of Nathan and those who are playing in the centre of defence.”
Ireland responded well after falling behind to the Finns in October but concerns over lost duels saw Shane Duffy, 32, drafted in, only for the veteran defender to then be ruled out.
And Hallgrimsson has told his players — who will again be led out by Collins as captain — that they will have to stand up and be counted to claim a result.
He added: “We lost a lot of duels in the last camp. He is one who doesn’t lose many of his, both in a sense of set-pieces and the physicality.
“The Finland team is a really organised team, they know what they’re doing and they pin up with the striker a lot.
“There’s going to be a lot of fights in this game.
“I haven’t seen Shane in the squad so I also just wanted to work with him and see what he would give to us.
“Experience as well, that is the reason why I really wanted to have him in this camp.”
Collins is likely to be partnered by Liam Scales in the centre of defence.
Dara O’Shea lined out at right-back in the last two matches and is expected to do so again.
He has been managing a back issue but trained yesterday.
If he was to be ruled out, Matt Doherty could come into contention in that position.
And he is also in the mix on the left side of defence with Robbie Brady sidelined.
Ryan Manning — who has broken into Southampton’s Premier League team — is another option.
Hallgrimsson confirmed both players were in his thoughts for a starting role despite not being in his original squad.
He said: “Yeah, just to answer on Matt, we always said we did not want to have both Matt and Séamus Coleman at the same time, to think a little bit for the future.
“So missing Séamus and Shane Duffy too, two really experienced players, no doubt in my mind that Matt was the replacement there.”
That is not strictly accurate as he left Doherty out last month when Coleman was unavailable and Duffy had also been overlooked.
The Wolves man had expressed his displeasure about being overlooked, claiming he should be in the squad even if he is not going to play.
But Hallgrimsson insisted there was no issue between the pair. He said: “It has been quite pleasant. He is a nice guy.”
Apart from Brady, Hallgrimsson must make one other enforced change with Chiedozie Ogbene ruled out for the remainder of the season.
He added: “It’s always a little bit more tricky when both him and Robbie for example have started all of the matches since I came.
“There’s a lot of invested time in them.”