Harry Arter has Georgia on his mind. Unfortunately, Ray Charles has little to do with it.
At 9:40pm in Ninian Park, the Irish players could be celebrating a place in the play-offs for the World Cup.
But it may not be the case, and if so, the draw in Tblisi will resurface as the beginning of the end of dreams of Russia in 2018.
Arter started in midfield that night in one of the most disappointing Ireland performances in recent times. The Bournemouth man has taken it personally.
"I take complete responsibility for not playing as well as I could have. Collectively we were poor on the night.
"You have those games in your career and unfortunately for us it was that night. You put pressure on yourself to be the best player on the pitch in every game. In some games I don’t feel I have done that.
"You come away and then there is a long build-up to your next game so those games stick in your head a little bit.
"The Georgia game was in my head a little bit. The position I’m in at the minute within the squad means every opportunity I get, especially in a competitive game, I just have to take it with both hands. I’m professional and honest enough to know when I haven’t taken it and that was one I didn’t.
"I spoke to the manager before the Moldova game and he asked me what my thoughts were on it and it was an honest conversation. I felt that was good. For me, it’s about starting again to get in his mind to get in the team."
Collective responsibility is clearly a big part of the mindset of this squad, but Arter seems keen to shoulder more than his fair share.
The midfielder constantly speaks of his lack of matches at this level, but as a 27-year-old regular in the Premier League, he has more going for him than many of the group. Whether it’s a factor in the Ireland manager’s thoughts remains to be seen.
Arter said: "Every player wants to play a game of this importance. There are a few lads that have played in games similar to this. Their experience is going to be vital, especially to lads like myself or other lads who maybe don’t have that experience.
"We’ll need them. I would love to play but the bigger picture is purely focused on the team and getting the result.
"I feel I had my opportunity against Georgia and ultimately I didn’t really take it. I didn’t play anywhere near well enough and as a team we didn’t play well enough.
"I have to keep coming over, keep training well and if I do come on as I did against Moldova, I have to try to make an impression."
Shane Long’s injury could change things. Whether Martin O’Neill was going to deploy one or two strikers, the often favoured diamond formation is one Arter can shine in. Truthfully, after some self-criticism for his display last month, it doesn’t reflect in his confidence of his talent in the system.
"I feel I’m capable of playing anywhere in midfield. I can sit in a two or three man midfield. We played a diamond on Friday and I feel I can play in that.
"I would be most comfortable in a two man midfield or someone in front of me. I haven’t got the experience or enough games under my belt to be demanding where I play or at least saying where I want to play.
"I need to make the best of any opportunity of where I’m put and try to adapt to it and make sure I play well wherever I play."
One sometimes wonders the thoughts of the central midfielders at Ireland’s disposal. For Glenn Whelan, who shouldered the graft for so many years, and now David Meyler and the likes of Arter, attention often escapes them. They are usually the ones that shoulder the brunt of criticism when things go wrong.
Spotlight, regardless of whether he starts or not, is firmly on the shoulder of a Norwich City midfielder, one that possesses qualities that Arter admits is unrivaled.
"Wes has something different to everyone in the squad. He is someone that can create something out of nothing. When he plays he is a massive plus for us.
"Along with that obviously we have a great squad. We have players coming back from injuries and suspensions.
"The manager is going to have some big decisions to make and I’m sure he is going to have a lot of long thoughts about it.
"Everyone will be behind the starting XI even if they don’t make the team."
Fixtures of this nature have started to become a regular occurrence. Two games with Scotland, a friendly with England and the first meeting of the sides in the Aviva Stadium offer a contrast to the Serbias and Georgias of qualification groups, where often the unexpected has a greater chance of rearing its head.
The 22 players on the field in Cardiff will be familiar with each other and it’s something Arter recognises.
"It will almost be like a Premier League game. The lads are used to playing against each other and there is not that feeling against other nations because often you haven't come up against the players before.
"There will be friends playing against each other but that will definitely be put aside.
"I’m sure Wales will be as competitive as we are but in my opinion it will be down to who wants it most on the night.
"If they don’t start the game well the pressure will mount even more. That will be something we could try to use to our advantage.
"For us the pressure is huge. It comes from within the camp. We expect to win and we want to win."
At yesterday’s pre-match press conference, Arter’s manager stressed a disbelief in the notion that international football is fading toward irrelevance.
It seems a nonsensical thought this morning as the nation awaits a game that could end 13 months of hard work so far. Arter has that same feeling, and that Georgia could come back to his thoughts.
"To be in a World Cup for any player, for a nation like us, it would be massive for the country.
"Individually it would be something we could all look at when we finish our careers.
"If we don’t make it, it will be something that we kick ourselves about for a long time.
"The manager let the lads know how much it was a big deal for him to play in the World Cup and the memories that he had from that. Hopefully we can make the same."
Doing so would banish that difficult night in the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena. But it could be an inspiration too. Keep Georgia on your mind will be manager's message once more.
Watch the full interview with RTÉ Soccer Correspondent Tony O'Donoghue on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7pm
