European Championship qualifying semi-final, League B: Bosnia & Herzegovina v Northern Ireland (Sarajevo, 7.45pm Irish time)
FOR all the familiar faces and relatively limited choice available, Northern Ireland line-ups were still often tricky to predict under Michael O'Neill.
The same applies under his successor Ian Baraclough, especially with so much at stake and a full hand from which to pick.
The questions to ponder cover personnel, formation, and tactics. The one certainty is that there has to be a winner tonight – but not necessarily within 90 minutes, perhaps it will go to penalties.
Outsiders might expect Northern Ireland to sit tight and hope to catch hosts Bosnia & Herzegovina on the counter-attack, but the vibes coming out of the visiting camp are of a positive approach.
Boss Baraclough insisted: "I would like to see that. I don't think it's in our nature to sit off the game and I don't think it's in our DNA. We talk about that regularly.
"We're at our best when we're trying to force the opposition into things they don't like doing.
"We've got players who want to run forward, show a lot of energy and power in the team and for me that's a good way to attack it."
Who to choose to go about that is another matter. The bulk of the players picked can be predicted with confidence, but the shape is up for debate.
NI could go with a back three, including young Daniel Ballard alongside the usual experienced centre back duo of Craig Cathcart and Jonny Evans, which would play to the attacking strength of Stuart Dallas and Jamal Lewis in wing-back roles. However, Michael Smith might be right-back in a four, with Leeds man Dallas further forward.
The midfield could morph between a three and a four, with Paddy McNair, skipper Davis, George Saville all capable of getting forward to literally and metaphorically assist the centre-forward.
An attacking mindset would include at least one out of Gavin Whyte, Jordan Jones, and Niall McGinn from the start in a wide role – but the versatility of Corry Evans may get the nod instead.
Up front there are differing options and strengths – the pace and persistence of Conor Washington, the power and workrate or Josh Magennis, or the height of Kyle Lafferty.
The temptation to go for it is understandable, with chance creation often a problem for the men in green.
Yet although there's been talk of a 'defensive crisis' for the hosts, the reality is that their new manager, Dusan Bajevic has actually been transforming the back-line.
Sure, there's a problem at right centre-back: Ermin Bi?ak?i? of Hoffenheim would have been first choice but was ruled out be injury late last month, and the experienced Ervin Zukanovi? is also apparently doubtful. Toni Šunji? has been unable to travel from China, where he plays for Beijing Guoan, due to quarantine rules.
That means a potential call-up for one of the two young Swedish-born new call-ups, Anel Ahmedhod?i? or Dennis Had?ikaduni?, to partner Siniša Sani?anin.
However, the likely full-backs are the first choices, Branimir Cipeti? and Arsenal's Sead Kolašinac, although the former has only one cap, from the recent 1-1 Nations League draw in Italy.
How much the visitors will be able to examine and exploit that admittedly new-look defence remains to be seen.
Despite more changes further forward, the hosts have plenty of quality in midfield and attack, not just the big names of Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko.
The former, who switched to Barcelona from Juventus in the summer, is the main supplier for the latter. Now 34-and-a-half, Dzeko still scored 16 Serie goals last season for Roma – and netted against his current country of residence in that Nations League A clash in Florence.
Another with an Italian link is winger Amer Gojak, who has moved on loan to Torino from Dinamo Zagreb. Edin Viš?a of new Turkish champions ?stanbul Ba?ak?ehir is also a threat going forward.
An understandably unfit, under-prepared Northern Ireland were thrashed 5-1 at home by Norway – Erling Braut Haaland et al – last month.
The players, and Baraclough, are confident of providing a better account of themselves tonight, avoiding a repeat of the World Cup play-off exit against Switzerland from the previous campaign.
"Many of the players - 13 of the players [in this squad] - went to the Euros, so they will be used to the build-up to this kind of game," says 'Bara'.
"Lads were also involved in the Switzerland play-off. I know that was a two-legged affair, but they went into that second leg knowing it was all or nothing.
"That experience and negative experience of losing that tie really helps to focus players because they don't want to go through that feeling again.
"Without a doubt they've got unfinished business. When you're so close to a major tournament, they don't want to go through the same feeling of disappointment.
"I think that's massive. To have that experience of losing games and knowing what it feels like makes you run that extra 10 per cent more."
Possible teams:
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Šehi?; Cipeti?, Had?ikaduni?, Sani?anin, Kolašinac; Cimirot, Pjani?, Gojak; Viš?a, D?eko, Hod?i?.
Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell; Smith, Cathcart, J Evans, Lewis; Dallas, Davis, Saville, C Evans, McNair; Washington.
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain).
