Israel represent a difficult challenge for Jim Crawford's Republic of Ireland under-21 side as they aim to be the first Irish men's side at this age-group to qualify for a major tournament.
Their opponents finished second in their group behind Germany and ahead of both Poland and Hungary.
They feature several players who have made their senior international debut and include the likes of Liel Abada who has started the season well for Celtic.
Their under-19 side were defeated in the European Championship final by England after initially going ahead.
"Israel are a physical team, they are well organised and mixed with some really talented players. There are five players have gone to play for the senior team but I would imagine some of those will be back.
"I know the boy Abada has played with the 21s in this campaign but he has gone and scored goals with Celtic. I don't know will he come back but they are a talented team and it will be by no means an easy game.
"You only have to look at their campaign where they played Germany twice and got beaten by the odd goal in both. In one of them Germany got two late goals to win 3-2 so it's not going to be an easy task.
"They beat Poland and drew with Poland so there is so much pedigree there. They overcame Hungary as well to come second and earn the playoff spot. It’s going to be a challenging game."
Italy were the only team to win in Tallaght Stadium over the course of the campaign. Crawford is calling for a vociferous home crowd to encourage the team on Friday week.
"It's important to get a result there in Tallaght, but it’s a cliche, it’s only half-time then. So even if you get a result you still have a lot of work to do going over to Tel Aviv.
"If you are on the wrong side of a result you have more work going to their stadium. Tallaght, we just need a full stadium, that’s for sure.
"We need bums on seats and I stress that if anybody has bought a ticket, turn up. It’s what we need. We need people to get behind us in this game."
Andy Lyons will be playing on his home ground and has caught the eye domestically this season. He will be pushing for a start, as Joel Bagan is ruled out through injury.
"I've seen Andy play so many times. We might play him up top with the amount of goals he’s scored! He has done fantastic playing left-wing-back.
"It suits him, where he can come in from the outside onto his stronger foot. You saw the goal he scored against Finn Harps at the weekend. He is scoring goals, he is playing well, he is on the crest of a wave, there is a move that’s going to happen in January to Blackpool where he is going to play Championship football, so he is in a great place.
"But we have all got a little snapshot of everybody that is coming into the squad because all the players now, you’ve got Evan Ferguson, Finn Azaz, Brian Maher is playing well, David Harrington, who is on the verge of being promoted… everybody has got a feel-good story coming in."
Meanwhile Udinese's Festy Ebosele has dropped down from the senior squad to make himself available for selection.
"Festy is somebody that hasn’t played that much with Udinese this year. He came off the bench to play against AC Milan, but we had a look at his training numbers, his data and they are training exceptionally hard over in Italy.
"He hasn’t played that much football, but it is an unbelievable league that he is in, Serie A. So it was always going to be a real challenge for him to play week in, week out.
"But I knew we had an opportunity to get Festy back and I think he is a player with his pace, his power, who can create goal scoring opportunities. Again, it’s fantastic to have him in the squad."
Ebosele left Derby last season after their relegation to England's League One, while Jason Knight who is in the senior squad but is still eligible for the under-21s decided to stay.
"I spoke to him before he went and he was delighted to go. So that's a starting point, that he’s happy to go there. You are hoping he’s working with good coaches, his training with really good players week in, week out. That will help him.
"I think ultimately players need to be playing football. So it can be a little bit frustrating looking at Festy not getting enough game-time, but he is one with seriously high potential.
"He can go and play for us in the next campaign coming up. In an ideal world, you’d like to see him playing week in, week out.
"He has gone to Serie A, an unbelievable league, and he has still yet to break in. But hopefully sooner rather than later he’ll get into that squad."
The first leg of the play-offs will take place at Tallaght Stadium on Friday, 23 September, where more than 7,000 have already secured their seat for the game. The second leg is scheduled for Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel on Tuesday, 27 September.
Republic of Ireland senior men's under-21 squad
Goalkeepers: David Harrington (Cork City), Brian Maher (Derry City), Luke McNicholas (Sligo Rovers)
Defenders: Eiran Cashin (Derby County), Festy Ebosele (Udinese), Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers), Mark McGuinness (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Cardiff City), Jake O'Brien (RWD Molenbeek, on loan from Crystal Palace), Lee O'Connor (Tranmere Rovers), Joe Redmond (St. Patrick's Athletic), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)
Midfielders: Finn Azaz (Plymouth Argyle, on loan from Aston Villa), Luca Connell (Barnsley), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Dawson Devoy (MK Dons), Joe Hodge (Wolves), Will Smallbone (Stoke City, on loan from Southampton), Ross Tierney (Motherwell)
Forwards: Aaron Connolly (Venezia, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joshua 'JJ’ Kayode (MK Dons, on loan from Rotherham United), Liam Kerrigan (Como 1907), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Mipo Odubeko (Port Vale, on loan from West Ham United), Tyreik Wright (Bradford City, on loan from Aston Villa)
