Northern Ireland: 'Romania and Scotland the bar we have to get to for qualification'
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Northern Ireland are training in Manchester for their friendlies with Romania and Scotland
On paper, Northern Ireland's fixtures away to Romania and Scotland are just two friendlies pencilled in during the run-in of the club season.
However, manager Michael O'Neill knows they are worth much more than that.
While both Romania and Scotland will be jetting off to Germany for Euro 2024 this summer, Northern Ireland will be watching on, dreaming of what might have been.
There's no getting away from the fact that NI's qualifying campaign was disappointing.
After a draw that avoided Europe's big hitters, it started with optimism. However, injury after injury was followed by defeat after defeat (minnows San Marino aside) and any ambitions of making the finals were dashed.
However, the impressive win over Denmark in the final game at Windsor Park means it isn't all doom and gloom.
It's the type of result that can galvanise O'Neill's young squad, and away from the pressures of competitive football they can try to build upon it.
"Both games will be a real test. If you look at Romania, they had a really good campaign and won their group," said O'Neill, who is in his second spell in charge.
"Scotland were second in their group, behind Spain [and ahead of Erling Haaland's Norway], to go to Germany in the summer. The real thing for me is to test the players and let them see what is required to get qualification.
"You are pretty much going to have to finish above a team like Scotland or Romania or a team of that level if you are going to finish in an automatic qualification place.
"They are very much the bar we have to try and get to over the next few years."
Lewis and McCausland treated at clubs
Left-back Jamal Lewis, on loan at Watford from Newcastle United, will miss the Romania game on Friday and is doubtful for the match against Scotland.
Rangers' Ross McCausland is in a similar situation and both players have remained at their clubs for treatment where their fitness will be assessed.
Blackpool striker Shayne Lavery has been added to the panel.
O'Neill's side is brimming with youth, largely enforced by the injury crisis sustained through Euro qualification. In saying that, a lot of the youngsters put their hands up and are still involved.
Conor Bradley is the stand-out name following his breakthrough with Liverpool. Northern Ireland fans have long predicted his rise to the top, though few would have called just how quickly he would have settled into Jurgen Klopp's title-chasing team.
The fact there are questions over where Trent Alexander-Arnold should play upon his return from injury tells you everything you need to know about the rise of the 20-year-old.
Northern Ireland ended a poor Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a morale-boosting win over Denmark at Windsor Park
Even the injured Bradley missed the second half of the campaign and Trai Hume, who continues to impress with Sunderland, made the right-back position his own. The upcoming matches give O'Neill a chance to try and figure out how to fit them both in the starting team.
Do you start Bradley at right-back and Hume in the middle, or do you start Hume out wide and play the marauding Bradley further forward?
The absence of Jonny Evans means we will likely see Danial Ballard take another step in his every-growing leadership capacity, and allow others to get a taste of senior international football.
At the other end of the pitch, Stevenage striker Jamie Reid gets a well-deserved call-up and it will be interesting to see if he gets his chance to carry the confidence from his 17 league goals into the international stage.
Bolton's Dion Charles isn't far behind on 13 league efforts, two ahead of Portsmouth winger Paddy Lane, which bodes well for a team who have often struggled to score goals.
You can expect to see the three in-form players get plenty of minutes in Bucharest and Hampden Park.
After announcing his retirement, Steven Davis will be involved in Michael O'Neill's backroom team
Romania, unbeaten in 11, only conceded five goals in 10 Euro 2024 qualifying matches and Scotland, in a group with Spain and Norway, conceded eight in eight. Both will be a proper test of the attacking credentials of Northern Ireland.
"Away from home they are going to be difficult games," O'Neill added.
"Romania hit a purple patch in the campaign, they had a poor Nations League prior to that.
"The games will be a great challenge, but it is part of the development of the team so we will make sure that we will give a good account of ourselves."
Romania and Scotland, plus unannounced friendlies post-season, will be all for O'Neill to experiment before the Nations League begins in September, followed by World Cup qualifying next March.
These two fixtures won't be Northern Ireland's biggest games of 2024, but they will give a taste of what is to come.