The hosts seem happy to play about with the ball, and Northern Ireland don't seem in any rush to close them down.

Promising stuff...

Ali McCann whips in an early corner but it misses everyone and there's no harm done.

it looks like Ian Baraclough has stuck with his 4-3-3 with Ciaron Brown at left back and Conor McMenamin in a front three with Kyle Lafferty and Shane Lavery.

Off we go!

More Nations League misery or will we finally, finally have something to cheer?

After two disappointing results and performances against Greece and Cyprus, it was perhaps inevitable that manager Ian Baraclough would face questions about his Northern Ireland future.

The former Under-21 boss has always had an upbeat nature when facing the media and it was the same on Wednesday.

He insisted he is still the right man to take the team forward and that he is able to block out any criticism coming his way.

Read more of his thoughts here.

Image source, Press Eye

Here come the teams and we're ready for the anthems!

Northern Ireland all in white this evening with Kosovo in blue.

The pitch in Kosovo is looking Pristina....

Sorry..(ish)

Image source, Press Eye

Here's a stat for you - some of may know that Kosovo's manager is former France international Alain Giresse.

What you may not know is he scored twice against Northern Ireland when France beat them 4-1 in the World Cup in Spain in 1982.

Wonder if he'll bring himself off the bench tonight if things are tough for the hosts.

Image source, Getty Images

Kosovo side opened the group with a 2-0 away win over Cyprus, grabbing two second-half goals in Larnaca, before losing 1-0 at home to Greece three days later.

The country's footballing history is short, but impressive. Though the nation declared independence in 2008 and played a number of friendlies, it was not until 2016 that they played their first competitive international - just weeks before Northern Ireland were about to embark on their Euro 2022 journey.

Manager Giresse - the three-time French player of the year who played alongside Michel Platini, Luis Fernandez and Jean Tigana in their Euro '84-winning side - was appointed in February.

He has overseen a 5-0 win over Burkina Faso and a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in the March friendlies before starting the Nations League campaign last week.

With a similar sized population to Northern Ireland - approaching two million - Kosovo have produced some notable players in recent years, including Napoli defender and international captain Amir Rrahmani, Norwich winger Milot Rashica and Mallorca forward Vedat Muriqi.

Image source, Getty Images

We know we've been here before, but could this be the night for big Kyle Lafferty?

The forward’s last goal was against Azerbaijan in November 2016 – he has now played 20 hours and 45 minutes of international football without scoring.

Lafferty’s last international goal away from Windsor Park came in the 3-1 over the Faroe Islands in September 2015.

If Lafferty wins his 88th cap he will go into seventh place in the all-time list alongside Sammy McIlroy and Maik Taylor.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI

Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough dropped his tried and trusted 3-5-2 formation away to Cyprus on Sunday for a 4-3-3 shape.

He had to do something to try and change things around tonight and it looks as if he has gone back to that 3-5-2 with a back three of Jonny Evans, Ciaran Brown and Dan Ballard.

Conor McMenamin is not a natural wing-back but he is likely to line up on the left as he makes his first start, with fellow first-starter Brodie Spencer on the right.

Captain Steven Davis makes his third start in a week in a midfield that is missing Shea Charles, despite his good performance in Cyprus. Ali McCann comes in as George Saville keeps his place.

Shayne Lavery is back up top to join Kyle Lafferty, who is still in search of a first international goal since November 2016.

Northern Ireland

The big team news from Pristina is Conor McMenamin and Brodie Spencer, fresh from their debuts off the bench against Cyprus, have been named from the start in Kosovo tonight.

Dan Ballard, Ali McCann and Shayne Lavery also come into the starting team as Northern Ireland aim to end their horrid Nations League run.

Paddy Lane, Niall McGinn, Paddy McNair, Gavin Whyte and Shea Charles are the players to make way from Sunday's drab draw.

Right, who wants some team news?

BBC Sounds

You can listen to tonight's game on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster from 19:30 BST.

Former NI duo Keith Gillespie and Warren Feeney are in studio with Joel Taggart.

As ever, John O'Neill joins Michael McNamee on commentary.

Away from the men's team, Northern Ireland's women are getting ready for their maiden international tournament in Euro 2022 this summer.

However, there has been disappointing news for Megan Bell and Caragh Hamilton who have been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

Rangers midfielder Bell has had surgery on an injured hamstring while Glentoran forward Hamilton has also been ruled out after injuring her thigh.

Image source, Press Eye

While boss Ian Baraclough has borne the brunt of most of the criticism from supporters this week, Northern Ireland defender Dan Ballard has said the players need to take responsibility too.

Joining his manager to face the media on Wednesday, the Arsenal defender said he and his team-mates owe the supporters - and particularly those travelling to the games - a victory and good performance.

Read more about what he had to say here.

Image source, Press Eye

Northern Ireland's campaign so far? Not great, if we're being honest.

A defeat at home to Greece was followed up by a drab draw away to Cyprus on Sunday.

Will things be more upbeat by the end of play this evening?

He's still only 18, but it's been quite a year for club and country for Conor Bradley.

He made his Northern Ireland debut last May, before even having played for Liverpool, and has gone on to win six caps in total since then.

He has started to break through at Anfield, too, playing Champions League football among five appearances for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Read Bradley's reflections on a "mad" year here.

Here we go - it's game three out of four in everybody's favourite international window.

The negatives? Let's get them out of the way. Northern Ireland are yet to win a Nations League game in 12 attempts and could dearly do with three points this evening.

We could also do with a goal to keep spirits up.

The positives? We're over halfway before this part of the campaign comes to an end.

Let's take that with a pinch of salt and see what tonight brings!