Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

It's one of those lovely, sunny days in Dublin when everyone seems to be enjoying their coffees (or something stronger) outdoors.

With the sun out, my stroll up Shelbourne Road was very pleasant and I did happen to overhear some pre-match chatter in a few popular nearby watering holes.

I heard a few Irish fans with the nerves clear in their voices, chatting about the misery of watching the Ukraine game the other night and their growing desperation to celebrate an Irish goal in this increasingly deflating Nations League campaign.

There were plenty of beaming Scottish smiles on the way, too. They have reason to be confident, of course. While missing out on World Cup qualification was undoubtedly painful, their team is clearly in a much better place than today's hosts.

Will they be smiling come full-time, though? Having watched what the Republic conjured against Armenia and Ukraine, I'd say there's a good chance of it.

But who knows. Stephen Kenny badly needs a lift. Maybe his players will step it up and give him it today ahead of a trip to Poland to face Ukraine again.

Here's how the table stands before this game. Ukraine have just beaten Armenia 3-0 in Poland to maintain their 100% start and top the group.

Image source, BBC Sport

Kenny Miller
Former Scotland striker on BBC Radio Scotland

Image source, SNS

Steve Clarke hasn't changed much from the 2-0 win against Armenia, with John Souttar dropping out of defence as Grant Hanley returns to anchor the back three.

Scott McTominay will play in his more traditional midfield berth in place of Stuart Armstrong, who's back on the bench.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

Bit of a curved ball from the Irish camp as John Egan, who had been ruled out of today's game with an ankle problem, starts and deputises for missing skipper Seamus Coleman in Stephen Kenny's back three alongside Shane Duffy and Nathan Collins.

Elsewhere, Alan Browne has been named at right wing-back with James McClean on the opposite flank. There is no place in midfield for Jeff Hendrick as Jayson Molumby comes in to partner Josh Cullen.

Troy Parrott also returns to the starting XI while it's a big day for Michael Obafemi, who makes his first international start after making appearances from the bench in the Armenia and Ukraine games.

Callum Robinson drops down to the bench but there is no place for Chiedozie Ogbene, who didn't make the matchday squad because of injury.

Ireland: Kelleher, Duffy, Egan, Collins, McLean, Cullen, Browne, Molumby, Obafemi, Parrott, Knight.

Substitutes: O'Leary, Travers, Christie, Stevens, Robinson, Hourihane, Keane, Hendrick, O'Shea, Hogan, Hamilton, Lenihan.

Scotland: Gordon, Hendry, Hanley, McKenna, Ralston, Robertson, McTominay, McGregor, McGinn, Christie, Adams.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Kelly, Patterson, Souttar, Stewart, Gilmour, Taylor, Armstrong, Turnbull, Brown, Campbell, Hickey.

It's the penultimate round of this marathon international window, as the Republic of Ireland host Scotland in Dublin in Nations League Group B1.

Clearly, the Scotland fans have been enjoying the sights, sounds, and drinks of Ireland's capital.

We'll bring you all the build up and live action right here!

Image source, SNS