John O'Shea is hoping that Ireland get a fair crack at Portugal as the two sides go head-to-head in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier at Aviva Stadium.
The teams met in Lisbon last month and while there was nothing to separate them after 90 minutes, Portugal grabbed a late, late, injury time winner to secure the points.
Earlier in the game, Cristiano Ronaldo had a chance to open the scoring following the awarding of a penalty, however, the global footballing icon’s effort was booted away by goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher.
And it was the awarding of that particular penalty that certainly added ire to the Ireland management’s overall appraisal of the referee’s performance, with Heimir Hallgrimsson stating after the game that he felt the referee showed Portugal too much respect.
"Yes, without a doubt, that's what you're hoping," said O’Shea, when asked whether it was vital that there is a strong referee in charge of the contest. "It's just that consistent and fairness, that's what you're hoping for.
"It was a strange one because we were able to look at the replays of it quite quickly and you're thinking surely you get a chance to have that reviewed," he added, when speaking about the penalty decision.
"Ultimately, you have to go away from those situations as well and make sure you keep as many matters in your own control as possible. That will be the key as well on Thursday evening."
Otherwise, the assistant manager believes that the Lisbon match proved positive in relation to Ireland’s World Cup qualifying quest, and generated the momentum to secure the vital three points in Dublin against Armenia three days later.
And O’Shea senses a confident Ireland outfit going into Thursday’s key fixture, with a result required to offer an opportunity of taking second place in Budapest on Sunday.
"You're coming on the back of a victory against Armenia," said O’Shea. "We took plenty of good stuff from the Portuguese game in terms of what we were looking for, certain spells of the game.
"We wanted to make sure we have something to play for in this window. We have, and now it's Portugal at home, and it's a massive opportunity for the boys and for us, for everybody.
"We go get that result that we're all craving, that this squad, this team we feel can get.
"Let's see what happens then against Hungary. But first and foremost, full concentration, making sure the group is ready, prepared.
"There's a bit less training time this time and we just have to make sure everyone's ready and fully focused and we know they will be."
With all focus on the Lansdowne Road encounter, the Ireland management are attempting to avoid thinking too much about the consequences of what happens in Yerevan in the hours before Ireland and Portugal go head to head.
A Hungary victory is expected and it will add to the toughness of the task, however, Armenia also have a chance to make their mark on the group and anything other than a victory for the visitors will prove beneficial for the Irish challenge.
Either way, O’Shea has stressed that the other game has had very little effect on preparations for Portugal, while conceding that tactics may need to change throughout the match with the permutations in play.
"It'll have a significance, but in terms of how we're going to approach the game, I think it won't have too much, initially," said O’Shea.
"We have to have the same concentration and discipline in our performance against a very attack-minded Portuguese team. So we'll wait and see what happens.
"We have to focus on what we have to do against Portugal to get that result that we need.
"So we'll know a bit more information beforehand, but it's not going to change too much, initially."
O’Shea was reluctant to accept a hypothetical offer of the team’s current situation before the group had started, but was thankful to still be in the hunt heading into the final international window of the campaign.
"We're always wanting more, whether that's more clean sheets, more goals, more attacking opportunities, you always want to be in a better position, but you always want to have that chance to qualify, so that's what we still have. It's up to us now.
"We'll have an advantage of knowing the result but still we have to perform in these games to get points, simple as that. The boys will know that so that's what we have. We have two games to get to that World Cup scenario to stay in it."
One big result on Thursday night would certainly send the side to Budapest full of confidence and maintaining momentum, and O’Shea believes that they have the personnel to make it happen."
"This group is more than good enough to get a result like that without a doubt, and we know we have that confidence and belief in the group.
"If we do that, the confidence in the whole place, the whole country goes absolutely crazy and that's what we're craving. That's what everyone is craving, to get it."
Watch Republic of Ireland v Portugal in World Cup qualifying on Thursday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
