James McClean is loathe to look past Slovakia in late March, but should Ireland move into the final of the play-off and potentially face Northern Ireland for a place at Euro 2020, the Derry native admits that such a scenario would be "extra special".
The Republic take on Slovakia on 26 March in Bratislava, while their northern counterparts meet Bosnia in Zenica on the same night with the two winners set to meet five days later.
If the two Irish teams get past their respective semi-final, they would meet in an all-or-nothing decider at Windsor Park on 31 March with a place in the summer showpiece at stake.
"I'd be lying if I said that situation didn't cross my mind," said McClean, speaking to RTE Sport.
"Obviously, given my background as well, it would be extra-special. It would be exciting.
"Look, if that's the case, I'm sure it would be a great occasion. Hopefully, we'd triumph, and it would definitely be up there in terms of career highs if that was the case.
"It's exciting if that's the situation. But it would also be exciting if it's Bosnia because of what's at stake.
"Look, we need to get through Slovakia first, which is not going to be easy. I wouldn't say we're going to be fearful either. It's set up nicely."
McClean is currently helping club side Stoke City move clear of the relegation zone in the English Championship under the guidance of former Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill, and the winger revealed that he may be in line for extra training the week before the potential encounter of north and south.
"We're that busy climbing the [Championship] table, so there hasn't been much chat about that," said McClean.
"He made a joke that he'll make me do 20k that week, if that's the situation."
McClean, however, was full of praise for his fellow Ulster man and the job that he has done since taking over at Stoke earlier this season when the club looked doomed to drop to League 1.
"He's changed formation," explained McClean.
"I knew him from his time at Shamrock Rovers, I was playing with Derry and played against them. I knew what he was going to bring. I met him a couple of times in person as well over the years.
"I was excited to work with him day in, day out and experience his passion.
"A lot happens when a new manager comes in. There's a lift around the place. He just breeds confidence into individuals, having private conversations with them. It's transcended onto the pitch. Winning games breeds confidence.
"He's helped me and others if I'm being honest. Confidence was very low, as you can imagine; we were bottom of the table when he came in. He just gave lads a lift.
"His attention to detail is phenomenal. Everyone knows their job going onto the pitch. It's showing on the pitch now."
Meanwhile, McClean also advocated for the proposed all-island league, which he believes would prove successful for football on the island, while he also hinted that he admitted that he would like to end his career where he started, at Derry City.
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"I think it would be exciting to have an all-island league to be honest," he said.
"I think it would bring in more excitement. Better gate receipts. Better crowds. You'd possibly have 20-22 teams in the League of Ireland, 10 in one and 12 in the other, I think it would add more excitement. The FAI has made a complete balls-up to be honest. I don't know the ins-and-outs, but it's obviously not a good situation.
"So hopefully that can be resolved soon. And if it's not an all-island league, then hopefully the League of Ireland can thrive even. Because it is very important.
"It gave me my education in the game and a lot of others. So a thriving League of Ireland is obviously good for everybody.
"I want to finish my career in Derry. Obviously, that's home but my wife is open to the idea of living in Dublin.
"I'll try and talk her around yet! But she'll probably win that one. She's been following me around England for the last nine or ten years. So she'll probably win that one in the end, to be fair.
"But we'll see. Ireland, anyway."
