Jim Crawford will send the Republic of Ireland into friendly battle with Wales on Friday afternoon with his sights already set on European Under-21s Championship qualification.
Ireland narrowly missed out on a first ever trip to the finals, the latest edition of which got under way this week, when they were edged out of runners-up spot in their group behind Italy by Iceland at the death in November, and that has simply served to whet the appetite for the new qualifying campaign, which starts in September.
Manager Crawford, who must balance his ambition with providing players for the senior squad, said: "The 21s, I just can't emphasise what a huge part with all the players' development it would be if we qualified for the finals.
"The finals are going on as we speak and I can't help but be envious. If we were there, it would be a real opportunity for players to make a jump with regards to their development. That's what international football does for players.
"It really brings them on to reach their maximum potential as a player, and it will help them because you get challenged technically and tactically at international level, for sure.
"I want to get there, that's for certain, and so does the staff, but the bigger picture is can we get them into the senior team too?"
Thirteen members of Stephen Kenny's current senior squad are recent graduates from age-group level - West Ham midfielder Conor Coventry was the latest to be elevated this week - and those men who wear the green shirt in Wrexham will have high hopes of following in their footsteps.
Central defender Mark McGuinness, 20, will hope to do just that after gaining vital experience of senior football on loan at League One Ipswich from Arsenal.
McGuinness said: "It's been fantastic for me to play first-team football - that's what I've needed. As a young centre-half, you need that experience and that exposure in men's football to then progress.
"Leading on to the international stuff, it just gives me extra confidence and exposure for the international period."
