Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward is hatching a Tallaght Stadium plan to try and unsettle world No 7-ranked France in just under two weeks' time.
The Girls in Green kick off their campaign on Tuesday 3 March against the French at the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, and then head to Utrecht four days later for a meeting with Netherlands.
In May, they will take on the Dutch at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh before finishing up with a trip to France.
Sandwiched in between those windows is an April double-header against Poland. The venue for the home game has not yet been confirmed by the FAI but it is understood the plan is to play it at Aviva Stadium.
Ward admitted she pushed for the high-profile France game to be played in Tallaght rather than the Aviva to enhance her side's chances of pulling off an upset. The head coach also revealed her desire to narrow the pitch for the visit of Laurent Bonadei's outfit, something Vera Pauw did back in 2020 when Germany came to town for a European Championships qualifier.
"The pitch is slighter smaller, let's be honest," said Ward.
"We will try do everything we can to make that as difficult as possible.
"It's smaller and you can dictate (the pitch dimensions). UEFA have certain guidelines so there are guidelines you can tap into.
"Can we get to the World Cup? Can we get there playing the way that we've built in this last year? I'd like to think we can, but we know we're going to have to be without the ball a lot more.
"I think you can see from how I've set teams up that we want to be entertaining but also there's going to be an element of who we're up against here."
Ireland will no doubt be up against it in World Cup qualifying, but their promotion to League A earned the safety net of a guaranteed place in the play-offs, even if they finish bottom of the group. Ward wants to avoid that fate, eyeing third place which would likely earn a kinder play-off draw and also keep Ireland in the top tier for the next Nations League.
With that in mind, the games against the Poles (ranked 24th in the world, three places higher than Ireland), are particularly important. Realistically, it's a shootout for third between the two countries.
"First and foremost they are critical games and Poland will say the same about us," added Ward. "They will target those games but we must try get a point or two along the way against what we understand to be two of the best teams in world.
"I think you gain a lot more from playing against the best teams in the world.
"You want to be striving to be the best and be competing against the best.
"I always refer back to the boxing bit in that the quicker you get hit, the quicker you get back up again.
"If you can take a lot from that and you're tactically challenged, everybody has to increase. That puts you in a good position for the World Cup qualifiers."
Ireland are attempting to qualify for their second World Cup on the bounce, with several members of Ward's latest squad either approaching, or the wrong side of 30.
"They probably feel that," the boss replied when asked if some players believe they need to make another major tournament to cement ther legacy.
"They have been exceptional. There is a difference when they play for their country, when they put that badge on and wear the shirt with pride. So they want to give everything they can to get to (Brazil in 2027).
"The legacy is hugely important. I would argue more than their club careers, every single one of them."
FIXTURES
Tuesday, 3 March: Republic of Ireland v France, Tallaght Stadium, 7.30pm
Saturday, 7 March: Netherlands v Republic of Ireland, Stadion Galgenwaard, 7.45pm
Tuesday, 14 April: Poland v Republic of Ireland, time and venue TBC
Saturday, 18 April: Republic of Ireland v Poland, time and venue TBC
Friday, 5 June: Republic of Ireland v Netherlands, SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh, time TBC
Tuesday, 9 June: France v Republic of Ireland, time and venue TBC
