Martin O’Neill has admitted he may be forced to shake up his Ireland side as the enormous effort that went into Thursday night's memorable victory against Germany takes its toll on his squad.
Ireland flew out to Poland on Friday for the Group D showdown in Warsaw (7.45pm, live on RTÉ2) as they look to snatch an automatic qualification spot with a win or draw of 2-2 or higher.
O'Neill welcomes back the previously suspended Glenn Whelan and James McClean as well as a fully-fit Seamus Coleman and said he may have to shuffle his pack to pull off a second famous Irish win in three days.
“We’ve got one or two knocks and bruises," the former Celtic manager said.
"Stephen Ward funnily enough isn't one of them. I’ve left him behind because I didn’t think he’d be able to do the two games in three games only because he hasn’t kicked a ball in earnest for Burnley this year.
“One or two other lads who played [in the Germany game] just need a little bit more time to recover.
“The starting line-up might just be a bit different. I think Seamus [Coleman] is going to be fine. Glenn Whelan and James McLean are coming back from suspension.
“The mood is very, very good obviously. If you've just beaten the world champions and you’re coming into this game on a downer then you shouldn’t be in the game."
Poland's last-gasp 2-2 draw in Scotland on Thursday also came at a price - they are without midfielders Maciej Rybus and Tomasz Jodlowiec, although the most significant injury came to Arkadiusz Milik.
The 21-year-old Ajax striker limped off with a hip injury just after the hour mark at Hampden Park and will not play any part in the Group D showdown. He has scored six goals in the qualification campaign.
“Milik missing is a blow to Poland," said O'Neill. "He’s a brilliant player, but I don't think they’re short of readymade replacements and in Lewandowski I would say that outside the very best players in the world - Messi and Ronaldo - Lewandowski is in a bracket of a number of players that you would say are not far behind. We obviously know what we have to do. We’re focusing exactly on that.
“Lewandowski won’t be easy to stop but we have try and find a way to do so. The Poles have also a number of other very fine players.
“You talk about Shane's goal against Germany, which is a massive goal for us to beat the world champions, but I think that late goal for Poland in Scotland... it changes the dynamic."
Norwich playmaker Wes Hoolahan was outstanding against the world champions in the Aviva Stadium, constantly probing and linking Irish play, but O'Neill is conscious of how tough it will be for the 33-year-old to replicate that display with such little recovery time.
“Wes has done exceptionally well for us. You would have to think at his age why he didn’t play at the highest level for longer than he has done.
“He is very important for us and we have to look at him and see, he’s on the other side of 30, to see whether we can have the benefit of him starting two matches in quick succession.
“When you do double headers with a three-day turnaround it is very quick but we knew that anyway but Shane’s goal has given us an enormous lift and maybe that extra bit of energy that would not have been there in the first place has regathered itself."
It had been reported that O'Neill had been offered a new contract to take Ireland to the 2018 World Cup earlier in the week, but he refused to be drawn on the speculation.
“No, I have nothing to say about it, the situation is exactly the same as before," he said. "Whatever reports have come out, it's news to me. I have spoken to [FAI chief executive] John [Delaney] in the past and we'll speak again, but no, I don’t think anything is a distraction, I don’t think anything will stop the focus now on what’s ahead.
“We have this opportunity tomorrow night, albeit a very, very difficult one, but one that we are looking forward to and Shane's goal, as magnificent as it was, has given us a chance, and I think that is absolutely and utterly what we are thinking about and everything else will will take care of itself."
