Vera Pauw will reveal her 23-player Republic of Ireland squad for the World Cup today as prep for the country's first FIFA Women's World Cup appearance enters its final stages.
The task of "making and breaking dreams", as Pauw put it, was always going to be a difficult one - though the arrival of new faces over the last five months has made the manager's job even harder.
In the wake of Ireland's play-off victory over Scotland, Pauw received messages from several players informing her of their Irish eligibility. She insisted that anyone coming in must already have an Irish passport and "be better than what we have".
This year, four players born outside of Ireland have been given debuts: Aoife Mannion, Deborah Anne De La Harpe, Marissa Sheva and Sinead Farrelly, while goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse has been included in recent squads.
Sydney-born full-back De La Harpe started February's goalless draw against China and hasn't been seen since; the well-travelled Whitehouse is fourth choice behind Courtney Brosnan, Grace Moloney and Megan Walsh.
However, Mannion [as long as she's fit], Sheva and Farrelly are all expected to make the plane.
Manchester United centre-half Mannion had a brace removed from her knee on Monday having tweaked ligaments during club training last month.
She's played two games - against China and the USA - but looked so assured in both that she'd been tipped to start in the World Cup group opener against Australia on 20 July. Pauw is such a big fan that Mannion may travel even if she is not 100%.
Farrelly's impact has been even more emphatic. Her selection for April's friendly against the USA was a major surprise, given that she'd only just returned to the game following an eight-year absence.
She's played just 60 minutes of football in a green jersey, displaying such technical quality and composure in that hour against world No 1-ranked America that it looks certain she'll also start against the Aussies.
Sheva - a former track and field star - offers pace and running power. She may not start in any of the group games, but the Philadelphia-born 26-year-old deepens Pauw's attacking options off the bench.
The presence of the newbies has a chain reaction. Mannion - if she makes it - could squeeze out Claire O'Riordan, Hayley Nolan or the veteran Diane Caldwell.
O'Riordan was excellent in last Thursday's 3-2 friendly win against Zambia, particularly in the second half after Pauw had implored her to "trust herself" in a half-time pep talk. The Celtic defender enjoyed a great end to the season in Scotland, excelling in the Scottish Cup final win over Rangers. She's managed to bring that momentum into Ireland camp.
Sheva's emergence puts more pressure on Leanne Kiernan, who is back after missing most of the season with an ankle injury. And the Farrelly factor leaves midfielders Ruesha Littlejohn, Ciara Grant and Jamie Finn in a precarious position.
The decision to switch Heather Payne from lone striker to right wing-back will also impact things, with Harriet Scott, Tara O'Hanlon and even Aine O'Gorman possibly coming under threat.
Payne has been brilliant since reverting to a more defensive position where her stamina and ability to read the game are evident.
Meanwhile Farrelly's presence in the middle of the park could mean Katie McCabe is deployed at left wing-back - at least against the Australians, who are very strong in the wide areas.
Kyra Carusa's fine performances up front in the two games against the USA make her the likely lone striker, backed up by Amber Barrett - who bagged a brace off the bench against the Zambians - and Payne, if need be. Kiernan will hope she's shown enough in camp to be brought as a different option; understandably rusty against Zambia, she is still Ireland's most natural goalscorer when fully fit.
Of course everything would be complicated even more if Pauw decides to bring four goalkeepers. She likes to have a quartet of stoppers to work with in training, but that would be a controversial call, and it's more likely a keeper will be one of the three back-up players Ireland are permitted to bring Down Under. Those players can train with the rest of the squad up until 19 July, the day before that first game against Australia in Sydney.
"It's part of elite sport. It's part of it but it hurts," Pauw said last week of whittling down her panel. She's correct on both fronts. As manager she has a responsibility to give her team the best possible chance of getting out of a really tough group, but this will have been a hard few days for everyone.
Pauw has been here before having led her native Netherlands to the Euros back in 2009 and she's experienced enough to know that once the squad is named, things will move on very quickly.
On Thursday, every selected member of the panel will be part of a Super Bowl-style media day in UCD before the players gather to prepare for the 6 July farewell friendly against France at Tallaght Stadium.
The next day they fly to Australia, and the journey officially begins.
Predicted Republic of Ireland World Cup squad
Goalkeepers
- Courtney Brosnan (Everton)
- Grace Moloney (Reading)
- Megan Walsh (Free agent)
Defenders
- Áine O'Gorman (Shamrock Rovers)
- Aoife Mannion (Manchester United)
- Louise Quinn (Birmingham City)
- Niamh Fahey (Liverpool)
- Diane Caldwell (Reading)
- Megan Campbell (Free agent)
- Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City)
Midfielders
- Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
- Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage)
- Megan Connolly (Free agent)
- Ruesha Littlejohn (Free agent)
- Lily Agg (London City Lionesses)
- Sinead Farrelly (NY/NJ Gotham)
- Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)
Forwards
- Heather Payne (Florida State University)
- Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool)
- Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers)
- Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses)
- Amber Barrett (Standard Liege)
- Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit)
Back-up players
- Claire O'Riordan (Celtic)
- Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes FC)
- Ciara Grant (Hearts)
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