Carbs before Marbs. Good carbs that is, with plenty of rest and water.
There's not been much lounging on the beach for the Republic of Ireland as they get on with important prep work at the picturesque Dama de Noche Football Centre in Marbella.
The Girls in Green have been here for over a week now, easing into proceedings with a couple of light sessions before last Friday's behind-closed-doors training match against Germany. That game was played over three 30-minute 'halves' and gave Vera Pauw an opportunity to use as much of her squad as possible.
Tomorrow's friendly against China is unlikely to be as rotational. But it will be interesting.
In the wake of Ireland's qualification for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer, Pauw received several messages from previously uncapped players, born outside of Ireland, making it clear they were eligible to play for the country and very willing to declare.
That gave Pauw something to chew over. You can never have too many good footballers, but the manager is highly conscious of disrupting the spirit of a group that's been through extreme highs and lows together.
"We only go for the players who have shown that they want to play for Ireland," Pauw said last November, ahead of the 4-0 win over Morocco, which took place in Marbella. "We have a core group and only if somebody is really adding something to the squad, and have done everything themselves for the passport, we can go for them."
So far, three new faces have come on the scene.
Manchester United defender Aoife Mannion (above) represented England at underage level and was on the bench twice for the seniors during Phil Neville's time in charge, a whisker away from being a full England international.
The daughter of a Mayo woman and Galway father - they met in Birmingham after emigrating for work - Mannion grew up playing Gaelic football, steeped in the second city's staunch Irish community.
Still, an early grilling from roommate Amber Barret soon came as no great shock.
"I got into the room and Amber says, 'Hello, how are you doing?' and then she's like, 'What you doing here? Why are you here? What's your intention? Where has this come from?' and obviously I just answered the same way as I've answered to you.
"Of course people are going to have some level of curiosity, because I've literally just turned up on a camp and I've never been involved before, so why wouldn't people want to know?"
Marissa Sheva has been trying to secure her Irish passport for two years. The Philadelphia-born attacker, who plays in the NWSL for Washington Spirit and qualifies through her Tyrone grandfather was a very strong middle distance runner.
Her stamina will appeal to Pauw who likes her strikers to defend from the front.
The third new addition was confirmed on Sunday. Sydney-born Deborah Anne De La Harpe is an energetic 22-year-old wing-back who is eligible through her mother Adele Wilson, born in Co Antrim.
It is possible - and what a story it would be - that De La Harpe could make her first competitive start against the Aussies in Ireland's opening World Cup group game on 20 July.
She represented the Matildas up to U-23 level but has no senior international experience. Regardless, De La Harpe adds further competition for the likes of Jamie Finn, Aine O'Gorman and Chloe Mustaki in a key position.
"Hopefully I can play my best football and gel with the team," she said on Sunday. "And hopefully be back."
Indeed.
It's strictly business in Spain for the Irish. The weather has been pleasant but even the most fair-skinned among the travelling party have avoided the need for Factor 50. Temperatures are hovering around the 15-degree mark.
Things will heat up, literally and figuratively, on Wednesday when the team bus takes the 50-minute drive to Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Cadiz, the 7,500-capacity home of Spanish third-tier club Algeciras CF. It's expected to be a little warmer come kick-off [1pm Irish time].
All the talk from the players over the last seven days has been positive: it's a welcoming group that's highly motivated to succeed.
However the stark reality is that Pauw can only name 23 players in the World Cup squad and three of those will be goalkeepers.
It's very likely that some great servants who have toiled for Ireland over the last five or six years are not going to make the plane and that realisation gives tomorrow's clash with the Chinese an edge. Every opportunity must be taken.
Or as midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn put it when asked about the prospect of playing in the pressure cooker environment of a World Cup: "Some people thrive and some people might crumble. Everyone will be nervous but it's about not letting the nerves take over."
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), DA De La Harpe (Sydney FC)
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)
Follow Republic of Ireland v China from 1pm Wednesday via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, or watch live on the RTÉ News channel.
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