Whatever the result against the Netherlands on Sunday night, Stephen Kenny expects to remain in charge of the national team ahead of next month's Euro 2024 qualifiers.
The manager is hoping that his side can turn the fancied Dutch over at the Aviva Stadium to play their way back into the qualifying group following three defeats in their first four matches.
Two of the losses came against France, who have opened with five straight wins, so now the manager is targeting second place, which he sees as a three-way mini-group alongside the Dutch and Greece.
And while Kenny admitted that he feels anything other than a win will all but end Ireland’s hopes, he still intends to see out the campaign in charge of the team.
"Yes I do, but I am not focused on that now," said Kenny, when asked if he believes he will still be in charge if his side loses against the Dutch.
"I am only absolutely focused on tomorrow night. It’s a big night, a very big night and we do need a victory. We need a victory. A draw wouldn’t mathematically put us out of it, but we have a desire to get a win. Holland likewise will come and be very determined to get a win themselves."
"I’ve prepared the team for the championships," added Kenny, when pushed again on the matter of remaining in charge.
"We play Holland tomorrow, then two games in October and the final qualifier in November. So yeah, absolutely. After that it's up to other people to decide. Really, I’m just focussed on tomorrow."
"Listen, I don’t seek assurances," added the manager, when asked had he received any guarantees regarding his position.
Looking ahead to the game, Kenny called on his side to be both brave in possession and to put their bodies on the line, and he believes that his team have the ability to go toe-to-toe with Ronald Koeman’s side.
Ireland are looking to bounce back from a comprehensive defeat on Thursday night in Paris by the runaway group leaders, France, but the manager is convinced that a win against the Dutch could kick-start the campaign.
The Netherlands, on the other hand, arrive in Dublin off the back of a comprehensive victory over Greece, and will be looking to cement their position in the group by gaining another three points in Dublin.
And while the manager believes that Ireland can compete, and ultimately secure a famous win, he expects the visitors to put real pressure on his side from the opening exchanges.
"It's a different game tactically to France," said Kenny. "Holland have a lot of good individual players and they are formulating a team now. Greece are a good team and they emphatically beat Greece, 3-0 up at half time, and they won comfortably.
"We're going to have to put in the performance of our lives and we're determined to do that.
"We need goals in the team, we need to match Holland right throughout and be aggressive in our approach also in this game and also be composed in the cauldron of the Aviva, be composed under pressure.
"Holland press, they press higher and more aggressively than any team we've played or as much as any team we've played, they commit a lot of players to the press, six or seven to the press at any time.
"They've got speed, they go as a unit. We'll have to pass accurately and sharp and be brave in possession for sure. We have speed in our attack as well so we have to utilise it.
"The players have effectively stopped a lot of shots," said the manager, referring to the continuing trend of goals scored against Ireland from outside the box.
"We've got to stop as many shots as we can and put our bodies on the line, and stop shots from outside the box, that’s very important."
And looking beyond tomorrow’s game, as mentioned, the manager believes that he will still be in charge of the games against Greece at home and Gibraltar away, and he is planning to be taking the team into securing another six points to add to the three he is expecting to win against the Dutch in Dublin.
"We are playing Holland tomorrow night and the reality is that it is a tough challenge and they are an exceptional team, but if we can get the win that we so desire, it gives us an opportunity in the October window to build on that, and it keeps us very much in contention.
"That is the way we are doing it at the moment."
Watch Republic of Ireland v Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying on Sunday from 7pm live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on 2fm's Game On
