Fifteen minutes to go until kick off. Here's a quick reminder of the two teams...

Northern Ireland have never won on Italian soil. Their only previous win against Italy was a 2-1 win on the way to the 1958 World Cup finals. Another win is long overdue...

The last time Northern Ireland played Italy the Azzurri ran out comfortable winners.

Image source, BBC Sport

Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough, speaking to Sky Sports: "I thought we looked comfortable with the three and speaking to the players they are happy with it too.

"It will take a lot of hard work [to get a result]. Listen, we can play. If we can settle early I don't see why we can't cause them one or two problems. Sometimes you are hoping for that little break too.

"They've gone for experience, they've played together for a good while now. They had a good European campaign. No Ireland side has gone here and got a result but there's got to be a first time, why not us?"

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI

Michael O’Neill’s legacy amongst the Northern Ireland faithful will always be secure.

The significant improvements in performances and results that he inspired during his eight-year tenure as NI boss – with the 2016 Euros the obvious high – mark him down as one of the country’s greatest ever managers.

However, one gap on his international CV is a victory over one of the top nations. He came desperately close twice against the Netherlands in 2019, but never quite got there.

It would be a monumental ask for Ian Baraclough’s side to shock Italy tonight, particularly given their outstanding recent record, but you just never know. Remember England and Spain?

As Northern Ireland prepare to kick off their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign against Italy, we've decided to test your knowledge of the Green and White Army's previous attempts to reach Fifa's quadrennial showpiece.

Take the quiz here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI

Jamal Lewis was a major doubt for Northern Ireland and the groin injury he was carrying has clearly not healed enough for the Newcastle United defender to start.

It looks like the ever-versatile Stuart Dallas will take his place at left-back in a back four that has Michael Smith on the other side of Jonny Evans and Craig Cathcart.

As always with Northern Ireland, there are options in terms of what shape the side could line up in, but it will likely be a 4-5-1, with Ali McCann getting the nod in the middle three ahead of George Saville in what was Ian Baraclough's biggest selection call.

McCann and Paddy McNair will have captain Steven Davis in between them in midfield, with Corry Evans and Gavin Whyte occupying the wide positions and Josh Magennis on his own up front.

There is the option of McNair dropping into a back three and Whyte joining Magennis up front, but it looks like 4-5-1 for the visitors.

Agree with the team or would you choose a different line up?

Step into Ian Baraclough's shoes and pick your starting XI before kick-off.

Image source, BBC Sport

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI

With Michael McGovern and Trevor Carson both unavailable through injury, Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough has travelled to Italy with an extremely young and inexperienced set of goalkeepers.

Burnley's Bailey Peacock-Farrell is the oldest and most experienced, at 24 and with 19 caps, while Conor Hazard of Celtic is the only other keeper to have made a senior appearance – just one, in a summer 2018 friendly.

Young Liverpool keeper Liam Hughes is in the squad for the first time as a late call-up with Derry City's Nathan Gartside unable to make the trip due to a medical condition after he himself was included in a senior international panel for the first time.

Having surpassed Pat Jennings' Northern Ireland record of 119 caps, skipper Steven Davis tonight equals former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton's UK benchmark of 125 caps.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here's the line ups for tonight's game as Steven Davis starts and captains Northern Ireland on his 125th appearance for the national team.

Ciro Immobile leads the attack for Roberto Mancini's Italy.

Image source, Getty Images

There are few more gut-wrenching ways of losing in football than a defeat in a play-off final, a pain Northern Ireland know all too well.

Just five months ago their hopes of reaching Euro 2020 were ended as Slovakia scored deep into extra time to win at Windsor Park and instead take their place at this year's tournament.

Now Northern Ireland start on the road to World Cup qualification and a path to Qatar 2022 doesn't come much more difficult than a game against four-times world champions Italy.

Will Northern Ireland use the pain of their Euro 2020 heartbreak to upset the Azzurri?