VENUE
Tuesday 29 March, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm
TV
Live coverage on Sky Sports.
RADIO
Live coverage on RTE Radio 1 Extra. Click here to listen.
ONLINE
Live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News app from 7pm.
WEATHER
A warm evening looks to be in store with a no chance of rain come kick-off time.
FOLLOW UP BELGIUM
It would have been preferential to reverse these matches perhaps but Ireland can finish another international window on a high when Lithuania visit on Tuesday evening.
Last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Belgium brought many positives as well as reminders of the difficult of facing top level opponents.
Ireland were able to match their opponents, or even better them, in the important aspects of the game.
Once again an intricate passing game, garnished with high energy and enthusiasm, and a desire to attack worked wonders for Ireland.
Despite the visitors being depleted, the target in the game was achieved with momentum staying with the Boys in Green ahead of the all-important Nations League and Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
The negatives were something of a slow start and the concession of two goals.
One was a moment of quality and the second from a set piece which Stephen Kenny admitted it was something his side need to learn from.
For those to be the only real complaints show how far Kenny’s men come.
Off the pitch, the feeling among the group has been matched in the stands with a unity certainly at least in the stadium behind the manager and the vision laid out in front of them.
This game gives Ireland another chance to entertain and reinforce the belief behind them.
CHANGES TO MAKE
A number of players will be handed an opportunity tonight. Caoimhin Kelleher will start once again but he could make way at some point in the second half for Max O’Leary or James Talbot.
Also in Kenny’s mind will be keep the club manager’s happy. He will need to ensure his players are managing how many minutes they play given there is a hectic club year to come.
For the likes of senior players Seamus Coleman and Matt Doherty, these are not matches in which they need to play a large amount of time.
Will Keane, Scott Hogan and Troy Parrott will be keen to make an impression while there could be debutants in Connor Ronan, Jimmy Dunne and Mark Sykes.
Nathan Collins looks to be a likely starter in defence along with Jayson Molumby in midfield. After that it’s a real guessing game on how experimental Kenny wishes to be.
The Ireland squad in full is:
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), James Talbot (Bohemians), Max O'Leary (Bristol City).
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Nathan Collins (Burnley), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers).
Midfielders: Conor Hourihane (Sheffield United, on loan from Aston Villa), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Jeff Hendrick (QPR, on loan from Newcastle United), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jason Knight (Derby County), Mark Sykes (Oxford United).
Forwards: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Troy Parrott (MK Dons, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Will Keane (Wigan Athletic), Scott Hogan (Birmingham City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United), Connor Ronan (St Mirren, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers).
THE OPPOSITION
A fifth meeting of the team as pointed out here. Lithuania were on this island last year in what was a 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Northern Ireland, while last week they had a 2-1 success over San Marino which had little to write home about
They’re still in Nations League C where they meet Turkey, Luxembourg and Faroe Islands later this year. Based on their current form, now ranked 137 in the world, perhaps they are fearing the same fate Ireland had at home to Luxembourg last year.
Manager Valdas Ivanauskas started when the teams met in 1995. The win last Friday was just his second in eight matches so far.
Having finished bottom of their last qualifying group, Lithuania are really struggling and this could be a perfect opportunity for Ireland to hit the goal trail again.
VERDICT
The match-making by the FAI has been very good for this window, with this game a great chance for Ireland to sign off on a high for the Nations League in the summer.
Kenny will be keen for his strikers to find the net if possible and look forward to an exciting period later in the year.
Follow Republic of Ireland v Lithuania via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app, or listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra
