Luxembourg are bossing this. Tiki-taka hits the Duchy.

And they're up and running in Dublin too, an errant backpass gives the Republic a very early corner.

Silky stuff from the visitors, one-touch flowing move but it comes to nothing in the end. Decent start.

Away they go!

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

On a night when Northern Ireland will honour their most experienced defender ever at half time, Michael O'Neill selects a centre-half pairing with just one cap between them.

Aaron Hughes will get a special presentation at half-time and he will no doubt be keen to see how Cardiff City youngster Ciaron Brown does on his international debut.

Brown is joined in the centre of the home defence by Sunderland's Tom Flanagan who himself has only made one senior appearance.

The Kop usually like to leave it right until kick off before arriving in the ground and it looks like they are doing the same tonight.

It's nearly show time.

Ciaron Brown is a young defender from Cardiff who was playing with Wealdstone just over a year ago.

The players are out...

John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

There are a few unknown names in the squad. Ciaron Brown, he's a new name to me. On the bench, Ethan Galbraith and Alfie McCalmont, they're new to me too. Understandably, the likes of Jonny Evans and Craig Cathcart aren't even on the bench. Bailey Peacock-Farrell will probably only play a half to get some game time.

Image source, Reuters

Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy was asked by Sky Sports about saying he would be happy with a draw.

"I was asked a direct question and I gave a direct answer. If we get a point, I’ll be happy. I’ve told the players we want to beat them. We’ll try to beat them."

Asked about his line-up: "This formation, this personnel are the best we’ve played against Georgia and Denmark. Trying to break Gibraltar down with 4-4-2 didn't work.

"We’ve had more chances playing with three strikers. I’d never leave two central midfielders against their three – they’d dominate the ball if we did."

There are 10 qualifying groups, of five and six teams, with the top two countries from each group going through automatically. Twenty-four teams in total will play in the finals next summer.

World champions France are the favourites to win Euro 2020 and are top of Group H with nine points from four games.

They suffered a shock 2-0 defeat by Turkey in June but they should win their next two games against Albania and Andorra, which are both at home.

Spain are looking strong in Group F. They have won all four of their games so far, scoring 11 goals and conceding four.

Arguably the pick of the games this week is Germany versus the Netherlands on Thursday.

Read more and see who's doing what here.

I regret to inform you that it looks like Luxembourg are playing a number seven at centre-back.

A disgrace.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

Image source, Getty Images

... we just live in it.

That's certainly how it felt here at Windsor Park a fortnight ago when Shayne Lavery scored an absolute wonder goal for Linfield as they secured a historic Europa League win over Qarabag.

The former Everton striker lit up the south Belfast venue and became an internet sensation as the strike went viral.

It helped him land a call-up to the Northern Ireland squad after Paul Smyth pulled out injured last week, and the home crowd will be keen to see how he does if he gets on tonight for what would be just his second cap.

Stuart Dallas is not playing anywhere tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Stuart Dallas has said he is happy to play in any position for Northern Ireland.

The Leeds United winger has been deployed at full-back in recent NI games and manager Michael O'Neill may be considering that option again.

Hearts right-back Michael Smith has been ruled out of Thursday's friendly against Luxembourg and the Euro 2020 qualifier against Germany four days later.

"I don't mind where I play," he said.

"As long as I'm playing, I don't mind. It's good that I'm able to play a number of positions, although sometimes being chopped and changed can work against you."

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

It's eight goals from eight games so far this season for Liam Donnelly at Motherwell.

Not bad for a man who has spent most of his career as a defender before moving into midfield this campaign

Three of those goals have been penalties. Skipper Steven Davis is the regular Northern Ireland penalty taker, of course, but it will be interesting to see who grabs the ball if a spot-kick is given and he isn't on the pitch.

There'll no doubt be more senior players who might fancy their chances, but Donnelly is certainly a man in form.

None of the forwards in the Republic squad have scored an international goal, with Brighton defender Shane Duffy (three) the second top-scorer.

Stoke winger James McClean has 10.

Image source, PA Media

Irish fans will hope that the absence of Liverpool's Xherdan Shaqiri, Norwich duo Josip Drmic and Timm Klose, Eintracht Frankfurt's Djibril Sow and Hoffenheim's Steven Zuber will weaken Vladimir Petkovic's side.

Shaqiri's absence has been the main talking Swiss talking point after he opted out of the game to focus on his club career.

However, the Swiss manager has played down the absence of the quintet.

"We have a style of play which doesn't depend on one single player. We have shown the past several times that we can replace missing players," said Petkovic, who led the Swiss to a World Cup play-off victory over Northern Ireland in November 2017.

Image source, Getty Images

What are the key areas for Northern Ireland to work on? Who can be the match-winner tonight?

Have they got a cat in hell's chance against Germany on Monday?

Let me know your thoughts...

As expected, it's a much-changed Northern Ireland side from the team who beat Belarus in June. Only Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Corry Evans and Josh Magennis keep their places.

Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell, McLaughlin, Flanagan, Brown, Ferguson, Corry Evans, Thompson, Saville, Whyte, Magennis, Lafferty. Subs: McGovern, Lewis, McGinn, Davis, Lavery, Sykes, Burns, McNair, Donnelly, McCalmont, Galbraith, Carson.

Luxembourg: Moris, Jans, Gerson, Carlson, Malget, Sinani, Olivier Thill, Barreiro, Vincent Thill, Rodrigues, Deville. Subs: Schon, Skenderovic, Hall, Selimovic, Philipps, Martins Pereira, Da Mota Alves, Bohnert, Olesen, Turpel, Joachim, Kips.

Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones (Wales)

Image source, Getty Images

Michael O'Neill says "performance is paramount" this evening.

Northern Ireland face Germany on Monday and O'Neill feels that preparation ahead of the Euro 2020 qualifier is crucial.

Corry Evans will captain an experimental side at Windsor Park, which O'Neill says was "an easy decision."

"It's important the players who play do themselves justice," added O'Neill.

"They have to give me something to think about and the most important thing is the preparation of the team for Monday night.

"We want to give the players who come in the best opportunity to prove themselves and I think we can do that."