John O'Shea is expecting a freshness to the Ireland performance as they open their World Cup qualifying campaign against Hungary on Saturday.
The national team’s assistant head coach believes that there is a growing confidence within the unit and is buoyed by the fact that the players have showed both form and leadership since the start of the season at club level.
And O’Shea is expecting the squad to take that mentality into the Group F opener and hand the team the perfect start to the campaign, before travelling to Armenia for the second game of the September window.
The former Manchester United man also lauded the players for answering the call to stake a claim for the jersey, which has led to real competition for places ahead of the upcoming double-header and into the remainder of the campaign.
"You have that confidence in the group now of how they've started with their league form," said O’Shea, speaking at Wednesday’s press conference. "Lots of the squad are in a positive frame of mind, even in terms of transfer windows and stuff, players getting moves. Now their minds are settled and fully focused.
"Then how players have started the season, all that momentum. I think you're hoping that there's a freshness in the team on Saturday to have that momentum.
"It's what you want to see, the players that have been involved recently, taking that confidence they've got from having an international call-up, getting international caps, going back to their clubs, taking that form on again, starting the season well. It's always pleasing to see that.
"Also, there's a nucleus there that are battle-hardened now as well. They've got to step up now and really show, and enjoy, that challenge of being the main men in the team."
If the players are bringing form and confidence, the management will have to put a plan in place to achieve the desired fast start, and O’Shea is convinced that the clear and concise messaging will have the desired effect on Saturday night.
"I think that's the consistent and clear message we've been giving the group since the manager's come in," said O’Shea. "We've not taken our focus away from that.
"If we can get that momentum created from ourselves, giving it to the fans, but also when needed, the fans giving it to the team and the players. It's that combination. Hopefully, that's going to be crucial on Saturday night."
Both the manager and players have spoken with confidence of qualifying for the World Cup in recent days, and O’Shea believes that there is a really positive vibe about the camp, and is expecting it to be in evidence at Lansdowne Road.
"It's a really, really good energy about the squad," he said. "But we have to step up in the games, that's the key to it.
"But also the belief now, the clear and consistent messages we've been giving to the team in terms of how we want to attack, how we want to defend our set-pieces…"
Ireland have put in some fine performances in recent years, with the home games against France and the Netherlands coming to mind, and yet both ended in defeat. And O’Shea is hoping that there will be less mistakes from the current crop, while acknowledging that opponents will be looking at those past performances and attempting to target certain weaknesses.
"You hope any team gets away from mistakes, individual errors," said O’Shea. "You're focusing on how you can hurt teams, and you're also analysing your own team's performances and how teams might look at, 'right, here's an area where we can exploit, here's an area where we can look at’.
"We're not afraid to mention that to our lads, [and tell them] this is where we need to improve, these are certain aspects that we can improve.
"And also reminding and reinforcing the clear message we've been giving the boys in the sense of how we're going to hurt teams."
Asked what advice he would give the current crop ahead of the imminent campaign, O'Shea issued a rallying cry for the players to go out and write their way into Irish footballing folklore.
"The best bit of advice I would be giving is these are huge opportunities – the most significant moments in your career, this can be the pinnacle.
"Not only for yourself, but for your family, friends, old coaches, and what the public and the fans are looking for and craving as well.
"If you can be a part of qualification, players will be heroes forever."
O’Shea also admitted that he has spoken to former team-mate Robbie Keane regarding the strengths and weaknesses of some of the Hungary squad.
"A couple of times!" said O’Shea, when asked had he been on the phone to Keane. "But listen, it's more so to stay in touch with lads as well.
"He’s able to give us little bits, but obviously, you're watching the players as well.
"The players in particular at Ferencváros, they're playing at a good level. They obviously were unlucky in the Champions League qualification, but they had a good result then at the weekend too."
Watch Republic of Ireland v Hungary in World Cup qualifying on Saturday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
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