The end is nigh for the Republic of Ireland.
Their World Cup will be over after Monday's meeting with a vibrant Nigeria, who are chasing a place in the last 16. The Super Falcons blew Group B wide open with a fantastic 3-2 defeat of Australia last Thursday; beat the Girls in Green and the fourth seeds will likely march on as group winners.
We could be approaching the end of a managerial era too, with Vera Pauw's future very much up in the air. Her contract is about to expire, and yet the 60-year-old still doesn't know if the FAI will be offering her a fresh deal.
This situation has been brewing since the start of June when Pauw said she was hopeful of sorting out her future before the World Cup, with her representative Ciaran Medlar in talks with the FAI around that time. Those talks have stalled, and Pauw has not heard anything from the association with regards to where she stands.
Ireland are slated to have a homecoming party on O'Connell Street this Thursday; although it's likely the FAI will hold off making a big decision until afterwards, this is an awkward situation for Pauw and the players.
On Sunday, Megan Connolly was the latest squad member to be asked if she'd like Pauw to stay on.
"I can't really speak personally on that," she said. "It is not my decision. What we have achieved in the past two, three years under Vera has been amazing. She helped us get to this point and I can only speak on my own personal experience and Vera has been great for me. But that is not my decision."
That was as close to a public backing that Pauw has received from one of her players. Katie McCabe, Louise Quinn, Lucy Quinn, Lily Agg and Kyra Carusa have all been asked directly if they'd like the Dutchwoman to stay at the helm; none have definitively said yes, instead sidestepping the question by highlighting that the decision is out of their hands.
It doesn't suggest unflinching solidarity, but if there is any discontent behind the scenes, it hasn't been reflected in the performances.
Ireland have not been far off in either of their two games against Australia and Canada. The team has looked organised and motivated, albeit they tailed off in the second halves of both contests.
Fall behind and Ireland struggle to find answers.
Pauw remains confident they can put together a 90-minute performance, stressing: "The team is very fit. We can push to the last second. Also against Canada we were trying and trying and getting there. The fatigue was not in a way that we couldn't press anymore.
"We want to go out there and put on a good performance do our best for ourselves and the nation."
"This team is so fit and the programme that the FAI has put on for us has helped in that immensely, because before we wouldn’t be able to, at this level, play 90-plus minutes with that pressure."
Pauw and McCabe attended a fan festival in Brisbane on Sunday where Ireland fans flocked to show their support. Amid all the off-field uncertainty, there is a clear, deep bond between the team and the people, a camaraderie that further muddies Pauw's current status. If she is to depart, it will be a painful split.
Collectively there is, of course, a desire to end this tournament with a positive result. Pauw has promised to play her strongest possible team, so don't expect the fringe players to get a token runout.
Heather Payne has a chance of featuring. The Roscommon wing-back pulled out of the Canada game due to a tight hamstring, but Pauw said on Sunday that she "might be OK". If she's not, Aine O'Gorman will deputise.
There's no other injury concerns but Abbie Larkin - introduced at the break last time out - may get the nod from the start. Ruesha Littlejohn has clocked up a lot of miles and could be rested for Lily Agg, while Louise Quinn is expected to soldier on having hurt her ankle towards the end of the loss to Australia.
And what of the Nigerians?
Led by Texan Randy Waldrum, who managed Houston Dash before Pauw took the reins in 2018, they have defied a rocky build-up to stand on the cusp of making the last 16. There were reports Nigeria were considering boycotting their opening game against Canada due to a dispute with their football federation over bonus payments.
That settled down, Nigeria dug out a draw and subsequently stunned the Matildas to give themselves a serious shot at winning the group.
Waldrum kept star striker Asisat Oshoala on the bench for the clash with the Aussies after she picked up a knock against Canada. The Barcelona attacker changed the game when she was introduced, and that tactic might be used again.
"We did the right thing by managing her minutes," said Waldron. "We still may have to do some of that in this match with Ireland.
"We have to make a decision whether we use her in the front or back end of it. But she can go, so she will definitely play and we will determine how many minutes that will be probably a little bit before the kick-off and exactly how we are going to handle that.
"She is doing well, she is back in training regularly and in good spirits."
That's bad news for Ireland. Nigeria are full of pace, a fluid outfit who will make and concede chances. If Ireland decide to open up and go for it, this one should have goals.
It's expected there will be around 20,000 in attendance, the majority of them wearing the green of Ireland.
"The fans have travelled with us and everyone is supporting back home," added Connolly.
"Of course we want to continue to do them proud and I’m sure we will. But first and foremost we want to go out there and put on a good performance do our best for ourselves and the nation."
Predicted line-ups
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Aine O'Gorman, Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Megan Connolly, Katie McCabe; Abbie Larkin, Denise O'Sullivan, Lily Agg, Sinead Farrelly; Kyra Carusa
Nigeria: Chiamaka Nnadozie; Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin, Ashleigh Plumptre; Christy Ucheibe, Halimatu Ayinde, Toni Payne; Rasheedat Ajibade, Ifeoma Onumonu, Asisat Oshoala
Referee: Katia Garcia (Mexico)
Watch Republic of Ireland v Nigeria in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Monday at 11am, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on 2fm
