An impressive 2-0 home win over Slovakia on Friday has fuelled belief inside and outside the camp that O’Neill’s young guns can qualify from Group A.
The squad has fought hard to sit level with Germany and Slovakia on six points, and a victory against the four-time winners in Belfast will send expectation levels soaring even higher.
After scoring his first international goal in the win over Slovakia, Sunderland defender Hume is hungry to shoot down Julian Nagelsmann’s big hitters.
Germany may have won 3-1 in Cologne, but O’Neill’s men frustrated the home side for much of the game and are quietly confident they can mastermind a Windsor miracle with the help of their vociferous support.
Tonight’s game will be O’Neill’s 100th in charge and Hume is fired up to rock the Germans.
When asked if his side could beat Germany and qualify for the World Cup, he said: “You have to believe always that anything is possible. If you don’t believe, then you’re not going to be able to do it. Do you know what I mean?
“Every game I’ve played at an international level, whether it’s home or away, the fans are magnificent.
“The atmosphere the other night was probably one of the best I’ve played under for Northern Ireland. So, hopefully, they can match that tomorrow night and push us on in this group.
“We know how strong Germany are. We know that from Cologne when they won 3-1.
“We were in the game for a large part of it, but at that level, if you make mistakes or if you slow down, you’ll get punished for it. So, we know the challenge that we face.”
Trai Hume has backed the Northern Ireland fans to make their voices heard in the clash with Germany
If offered a point from the game, Hume replied: “No, you want three points. You want to win every game you play. That’s all you can ask for.”
Germany may be clear favourites to win this qualifier, but Northern Ireland are now unbeaten in seven at Windsor Park.
There’s a strong togetherness in the Northern Ireland panel which appears to give it a more club than international feel.
“There’s always a difference between club and international,” added Hume.
“But I think if you ask anyone in the squad about coming away, everyone enjoys it. They look forward to it.
“Even the older lads and obviously the younger ones that obviously don’t play as much. But they all come away. They all enjoy it.
You know the tactics and your job, but you have to go out there and do it properly while giving it 100 per cent.
“We all get on with each other. So, you do have that wee bit of togetherness.
“You know the tactics and your job, but you have to go out there and do it properly while giving it 100 per cent.
“We are a good group and enjoy being around one another – we know how tough this game is going to be, and we just have to go out there and give it 100 per cent.
“You can’t give anything away, you have to go out there and perform.
“I thought we were really good against Slovakia and were on the front foot, bringing the game to them, so we will see what tomorrow brings.”
Hume’s finish against Slovakia was a sweet volley, an execution legendary goalscorer David Healy would have been proud of.
If the team is to conquer Germany, they must defend with conviction and be ruthless when chances arrive.
Northern Ireland defender Trai Hume is looking forward to the clash with Germany at Windsor Park
“You know how good their full team is, not even just the front three. They’re a strong opposition. That’s our job as a defence,” said Hume.
“As a team, the whole way from the front to the back, we have to try and nullify that. Try and not let them play to their strengths and try to play to our strengths. That’s all you can do, really.
“Try to keep them away from moments where they have quality. We know they do, but you just try to nullify that.
“You think of the game that’s coming up and you don’t look too far ahead. When you have enough points to qualify, that’s when you can enjoy it.
“Before that happens, you just focus on the game that’s coming up.”
The 23-year-old has taken his club and international career to another level, now reaping the benefits of a Premier League education alongside his Sunderland and Northern Ireland defensive partner Daniel Ballard.
“I think from the start, whenever I first came in, you get your way into the group,” Hume said.
“The group has changed since the start. A lot of the older and more senior lads have probably dropped out, like Michael said, got injured or retired. You kind of had to step up. It wasn’t really a choice, to be honest.
“It probably happened naturally. I think we have a young group, but there are a lot of leaders in there and we just have to keep on improving.
“I think international football plays a big part and club football as well in terms of your development.
“I think whenever I first came into the squad under Ian Baraclough, I probably wasn’t playing as much at Sunderland. He gave me my debut, but I didn’t get many games.
“Whenever Michael came in, he put faith in me to obviously start and play games. Hopefully, I’m just paying that off for him.”