Martin O’Neill says the Republic of Ireland will approach their Euro 2016 play-off with “plenty of confidence” but admits that opponents Bosnia-Herzegovina have come good at the right time and are “absolutely flying”.
The Boys in Green will fly to Sarajevo a day before the game on 13 November for the first leg and host the second match three days later in Dublin.
Mehmed Bazdarevic’s team won five of their last six games, including victory over Wales to claim third place in their group.
O’Neill is fully aware of the threat posed by the in-form side.
“I think they’re strong and they would admit themselves that they are coming good at the right time,” O’Neill told reporters after announcing a 39-man provisional squad for the ties.
“From a sluggish start they’re absolutely flying.
“They did very well in the match away from home [against] Cyprus, it was difficult.
"Bosnia have come through that with flying colours. They’re strong, they’ve got some really good players playing in big leagues"
“Bosnia have come through that with flying colours. They’re strong, they’ve got some really good players playing in big leagues and they’ll be difficult but we’re going in with plenty of confidence.
“The Germany game gave us that and I don’t think that the Poland match will have diminished that confidence and we’re ready for the two games."
Currently ranked at 26, Bosnia can boast Roma stars Miralem Pjanic, a free-kick expert, and Edin Dzeko, who played 90 minutes for the Italian side at the weekend after returning from injury, among their number.
On the subject of free kicks, O’Neill said: “What you don’t want to be doing is giving away silly free kicks around the edge of the penalty area and slightly beyond that, particularly if you’ve someone as dangerous as [Pjanic], who’s pretty expert at it.
“You’re going to give yourself a bit more trouble than you would want.
“Dzeko, if he’s fit, which he probably will be, is a top quality player playing big, big football as well at club level.
"He’s been a brilliant player for the last four or five years and these players are good so we’ll have to deal with it.”
The ex-Celtic manager was asked his thoughts on practicing penalties, should a shoot-out be required after the two games.
He said: “I actually don’t see why not. I don’t see why we shouldn’t practice penalties.
“You can never evoke the same type of atmosphere. It doesn’t really matter, we tried it when I was at all my clubs.
“We’ve practiced penalties beforehand. It’s nice to know that some people who want to take the penalties on the day of the game are up for it.
“Some players, I’ve noticed, who want to take them in practice but shy away when the big time happens but it’s worth practicing, absolutely, because we might as well be ready for every eventuality.
“It’s still nice to know that if you have practiced, taken at least 20 penalties in the couple of days leading up to it, that if you’re called upon to do so that you’ve an idea what you’re thinking about doing.”
O’Neill added that he was hopeful Shane Long would be fit for the game having gone off with an ankle injury during the defeat to Poland but was cautious on the fitness of John O'Shea.
“Shane is improving,” he said. “I spoke to him last week and he’s optimistic but then he’s always optimistic. I think it will be touch and go but for us it would be great if he was available.”
Referring to O’ Shea’s injury, O’Neill said: “It’s a Grade 1 hamstring. All hamstring injuries are a concern but this is less concerning than if it was a Grade 3. Only time will tell, but it might be tight going.”
