Republic of Ireland boss Vera Pauw had plenty to chew over when she faced the media on Friday ahead of the first of three crucial pre-World Cup windows.
Ireland will go to Spain early next week for a training camp and two games: a behind-closed-doors match against Germany and then a full international friendly with China.
Some new faces are on the scene for that trip; Manchester United centre-back Aoife Mannion and Washington Spirit's Marissa Sheva have both been included in the squad for the first time.
Ireland will have another test in April and France come to town on 6 July in what will be a farewell game before they fly Down Under to finish preparations for that huge World Cup group opener against Austria at the 82,500-capacity Accor Stadium in Sydney.
There could be further matches squeezed in in June and even in Brisbane after Ireland touch down for the tournament, but the Girls in Green are nailed in to take on the French. That clash is in Tallaght and not the Aviva, which is unavailable due to pitch maintenance. More on that later.
First, Pauw explained how and why the newbies got the nod. The manager is sensitive about upsetting the balance of things but has also been open about her willingness to freshen the panel up with the required quality.
American attacker Sheva qualifies through her Tyrone grandfather and Donegal granny.
Manchester United's Mannion (above) represented England all the way up to Under-23 level.
Her mother is a Mayo woman and her dad is from Galway, she's played a lot of Gaelic football in the UK with Sean McDermott's and, somewhat ironically, was in the same class as Jack Grealish at St Peter's school in Solihull.
"We will not put players in the squad unless they're better than what we have," stressed Pauw.
"Aoife Mannion is a central defender. She was on radar before she ruptured her ACL and has been playing games. I have spoken to her coach [at United] and he's very happy that we invited her because she’s ready to get back to her old self.
"He can’t offer her competitive games so there’s very good cooperation with Manchester United. This is the only moment that we can decide whether we go ahead with her or not.
"Marissa is an attacking midfielder at Washington Spirit who came on the radar because she was already trying for three years to get her Irish passport and her whole heart is with Ireland.
"She’s over the moon because her family is from here and this is a dream come true.
"We had only seen her on video. This camp will be crucial for these players but we hope to create an environment that they’re free to perform."
Last week FAI CEO Jonathan Hill said the the association looked at "the possibility of hosting [the France] game in Aviva Stadium but it was not available due to scheduled pitch redevelopment work".
Pauw believes that it was a missed opportunity but insisted every avenue was explored to play the match at a bigger venue, with the RDS also considered.
"We tried, it's not possible, but we will make a massive party of it in Tallaght Stadium."
Tallaght's new stand is due to open in the summer but may not be completed by the time France arrive. When asked if it was a concern the players would go from playing at a relatively small venue to taking on the Matildas in an enormous arena in Sydney, Pauw said: "The very special thing about this group is that they do not perform less or different when they play for five spectators or when the stadium is full.
"We saw that in Sweden, we've seen it in Finland, we see it in Tallaght Stadium… so I’m not concerned about that at all. We did investigate it and tried and tried and tried to see if we could move the schedule because it would have been a massive opportunity to try and have the send-off game [in the Aviva], but not so much as preparation, more so that Ireland can see us. Hopefully the new stand will be ready [in Tallaght].
"It’s our home ground, we feel happy there. We tried, it’s not possible, but we will make a massive party of it in Tallaght Stadium.
"We tried the RDS Stadium as an alternative and that wasn’t available either. I’m not sure if the stand will be ready by then but we will make a massive moment of it.
"We’ve done everything. We’ve tried to discuss the maintenance schedule. It’s a shame. But we’re happy at Tallaght Stadium."
Pauw also touched on the rumours Chelsea had made a £250,000 bid for Arsenal's Katie McCabe in January, a move the Gunners rejected.
McCabe has started on the bench more often than she'd like recently but it's not a big concern for her international manager.
"She said it was a big hassle but it went through her agent," Pauw said of the Chelsea interest.
"Of course she was proud about the interest but she understands the stand of Arsenal.
"Ruesha [Littlejohn] revealed last night to a journalist that Katie had a chest infection. There is no concern about it, coaches make choices and we have to accept that.
"There are more players with bench minutes, we have no concern about it."
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Grace Moloney (Reading), Naoisha McAloon (Durham WFC)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O'Gorman (Shamrock Rovers), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (West Ham United)
Forwards: Amber Barrett (Potsdam Turbine), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit)
