Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

On nights like this, it could be easy to forget that it wasn't that long ago that Northern Ireland were playing international friendlies in front of a half-full Windsor Park.

Tonight, the south Belfast stadium is set to be full for kick-off and, five minutes out, the buzz around the ground is building slowly.

The Northern Ireland anthem, Sweet Caroline, just blasted through the sound system and, while the reaction from the home fans suggested they are still getting warned up, it seemed to help the small section of visiting Hungary fans find their voice.

Here come the teams and the crowd get to their feet. It's nearly show time.

Here's a reminder of your Northern Ireland team.

Image source, BBC Sport

The teams are out at Windsor Park. What a moment for Paddy Lane ahead of his debut!

Image source, Getty Images

This has traditionally been a tricky fixture for the Republic of Ireland.

The Boys in Green won three of the four meetings between the two sides in the mid-90s, but never by more than two goals.

They were held to a goalless draw in their most recent home encounter with the Baltic nation in August 1997. Roy Keane played in that game. I can’t imagine he was a particularly happy bunny at full-time.

Jim Magilton
Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio Ulster

I’m looking forward to tonight, especially after the Luxembourg game. It was a disappointing performance on Friday but a great result.

Hopefully we’ll have a better performance tonight.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI

What an honour for Paddy Lane as the Fleetwood Town youngster is handed his senior Northern Ireland debut on what is his first call-up to the squad.

Manager Ian Baraclough has spoken about the 21-year-old's ability to play in midfield as well as in a wide left position, but it looks like he will be deployed in that left wing-back role.

For those Northern Ireland supporters who have yet to see him play - expect energy, and lots of it. If his performances for the Under 21s are anything to go by, he never stops working up and down that left hand side.

Niall McGinn will operate on the other side of Baraclough's 3-5-2 formation, with Craig Cathcart the senior player in a back three also featuring Dan Ballard and Ciaron Brown.

Captain Steven Davis starts in the centre of midfield for yet another record-breaking cap - his 134th - with Paddy McNair and Ali McCann alongside him in an all-changed midfield.

Gavin Whyte is rewarded for the strong impression he made as a sub against Luxembourg with a starting place up front alongside Josh Magennis.

Image source, Getty Images

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny on Nathan Collins and Will Keane: “It’s a great night for the two players. Nathan’s been capped at every level and came on in the Qatar game, but it’s his first start. Will Keane is at a different period of his career, but since he’s come in he’s looked very impressive and deserves an opportunity.”

On naming five players from Cork in the starting line-up: “Credit to all the coaches in Cork. Adam Idah’s not included – he’s injured. It’s a unique situation, so credit to everyone there.”

On keeping momentum going: “Since last March we’ve scored 22 goals and lost just one in 11 – the late one in Portugal, which we weren’t happy about. Anything we get against Lithuania tonight we’ll have to earn.”

Image source, Getty Images

Earning a draw with the world's top-ranked team Belgium shows how far the Republic of Ireland have progressed in the past year, says Chiedozie Ogbene.

In March 2021, the Republic were lambasted after a home defeat by Luxembourg in World Cup qualifying bur extended their unbeaten run to seven games after Saturday's 2-2 draw.

"The easiest thing would have been to sit back and accept defeat, but we didn't," winger Ogbene told Sky Sports.

"We showed character and determination. It took a lot out of us to get something from the game, but they are the world number one and we matched them.”

Read more here.

Ian Baraclough on introducing youth into Northern Ireland team, including Paddy Lane, who makes his debut, and Trai Hume:

"They are itching to get some game time, so when they come into camp it is not always about throwing them straight in.

"Sometimes for one or two of them it is about being around the squad and getting experience of 10 days with a group of people they are not used to being with.

"They may be a bit unsure of whether to sit next to someone at the dinner table even it can have that effect. I want them to feel comfortable and have that feeling that I am here for a reason.

"There is no guarantee that they get a start, but I would like to have a look at one or two if the chance arises.

"We are developing for a Nations League campaign, and we are making sure that the players over the past 18 months have been getting some game time to give them that experience."

Image source, Inpho

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

This is the third Northern Ireland home match at which there has been close to a capacity crowd at Windsor Park.

The atmosphere at the scoreless World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland in September and Italy in November was electric, as the Green and White Army found their voice again after missing so many games due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

There is a lot less at stake tonight, of course, but a full house is expected at the south Belfast stadium for the second of two friendlies before the Nations League swings round again in June.

The behind-closed-doors home games at the end of March last year brought little joy, with a friendly defeat by the USA followed a few days later by a scoreless draw with Bulgaria that was a huge early setback in Northern Ireland's ultimately unsuccessful bid for World Cup qualification.

BBC Sounds

You can listen to tonight's game at Windsor Park on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster.

Thomas Niblock is on commentary duty alongside former Northern Ireland defender John O'Neill, who is never shy of a remark or two when it comes to friendlies.

Image source, BBC Sport

Republic of Ireland

Will Keane is handed his full Republic of Ireland debut as Stephen Kenny makes six changes to the team that drew with Belgium.

Dara O’Shea, Alan Browne, Nathan Collins, Conor Hourihane and Ryan Manning also come into the side.

Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Josh Cullen, Jeff Hendrick, James McClean and Jason Knight drop out.

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher, Manning, Egan, Robinson, Hourihane, Keane, Doherty, Collins, Browne, O’Shea, Ogbene

Subs: Talbot, O’Leary, Coleman, Duffy, Cullen, McClean, Hendrick, Parrott, Knight, Hogan, Sykes, Molumby

The Republic of Ireland boosted their hopes of qualifying for next year's European Under-21 Championship with a vital 2-0 win over Sweden in Boras.

Motherwell midfielder Ross Tierney struck the opener after 12 minutes, while Derry City goalkeeper Brian Maher produced a commanding display to keep the Swedes at bay.

Sweden were denied a late penalty before Tyreik Wright scored the second.

The result moves the Republic to within a point of second-placed Sweden.

However, the Irish have a game in hand as the campaign is put to bed until June.

Now it's over to the senior side...

Read more

Image source, Getty Images

Lithuania finished bottom of their World Cup qualifying group with just three points from their eight games, their only victory coming at home to fellow strugglers Bulgaria.

They edged to a 2-1 victory over minnows San Marino in their last game on Friday evening.

Image source, Getty Images

Keith Andrews has praised Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny's strength of character after watching him battle his way through a difficult start to his reign.

Kenny failed to win any of his first 10 games in charge, leading to criticism of his appointment and methods.

He stood firm and has since been rewarded with a sequence of 11 games which has included just one defeat.

"He was very composed, always sticking to his principles," reflected Andrews.

Read more here.

Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis will look to take another step towards full fitness in Tuesday night's friendly with Hungary at Windsor Park.

Rangers midfielder Davis, 37, came off the bench to score in Friday's 3-1 win over Luxembourg.

He played just under half an hour in only his second appearance for club or country since 12 January due to injury.

"It was really nice to get on the pitch and build up fitness," added Davis, who is expected to start for his 134th cap.

Davis' only appearance in the last two months was a brief cameo as Rangers routed Hearts 5-0.

He added: "Physically I feel good, the injury has felt good. It's been a good week for me so far, hopefully I can get some more minutes tomorrow and take another step in the right direction."

Image source, Press Eye

Hungary

Image source, Getty Images

Since appearing at Euro 2020 last summer, where they drew with France and Germany (who else completely forgot that happened?), Hungary have had a mixed bag over the past nine months or so.

They finished fourth in their World Cup qualifying group, but did pick up another high-profile draw against England in October.

Victories against San Marino and Andorra are hardly an indication of form, but they come into tonight's game off the back of a 1-0 defeat by Serbia on Thursday.

RB Leipzig duo Willi Orban and wonderkid Dominik Szoboszlai, a name familiar to Fifa 22 fans, are two of the key players for the Hungarians.

Hungary: Dibusz, Fiola, Lang, Orban, Nagy, Schafer, Styles, Nego, Sallai, Szoboszlai, A Szalai.

Northern Ireland

The teams are in from Windsor Park and the headline news is there's a debut for Fleetwood Town's Paddy Lane.

Jonny Evans, who started against Luxembourg following his injury woes with Leicester, is left out and Steven Davis captains Northern Ireland to win his 134th cap.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Paddy McNair come straight into the starting team after sitting out the win on Friday.

Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell, Ballard, Brown, Cathcart, McGinn, Davis, McCann, McNair, Lane, Whyte, Magennis.

Subs: Southwood, Hazard, Hume, Flanagan, Saville, Lavery, Charles, Ferguson, C Evans, Dallas, Thompson, Donnelly.

Right, who wants some team news?

Throughout his tenure to date, Ian Baraclough has usually opted for the traditional suit and tie on the touchline.

However, Friday's friendly with Luxembourg saw him take a more relaxed look with some bold white chinos and black jumper.

I certainly couldn't pull that off (considering I've spent the last two years largely living in trackies), but let's see how the Northern Ireland boss approaches tonight's friendly in front of the Belfast crowd.

We're all about the important details...

Image source, Press Eye