Time for the anthems.

Kick-off incoming...

They might not have Erling Haaland to look forward to, but the home crowd in Dublin tonight look well up for this game anyway.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

A former Republic of Ireland manager has been in the headlines over the last few days.

Martin O'Neill, who guided the Republic of the Euro 2016 finals, has a new autobiography just published and has been on the media circuit this week.

A former Northern Ireland captain and European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest, O'Neill has rarely been short of an opinion.

Casement Park and the new Northern Ireland men's manager have been among a few of the topics he has been discussing.

Neither of the sides in action at the Aviva Stadium tonight are going to the World Cup, but that didn't stop managers of both the Republic of Ireland and Norway having their say on Fifa choosing Qatar as hosts.

Norway manager Stale Solbakken said the "world was asleep" when Qatar was awarded the competition.

In a frank interview, he added that the world's governing body "has the biggest failing" and made "the biggest mistake" when Qatar was controversially named as host nation in 2010.

Republic boss Stephen Kenny described Solbakken's remarks as a "legitimate criticism", explaining that he made a similar point on the two occasions his side played Qatar.

Qatar has been criticised for its stance on same-sex relationships, human rights and treatment of migrant workers before the tournament.

Read more of the the thoughts of both managers on this topic here.

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City midfielder Mark Sykes' late call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad this week was more than your average news story.

The 25-year-old was a regular for Northern Ireland's Under 21s and was selected in three NI senior squads by then-boss Michael O'Neill, but did not play.

He switched allegiance to the Republic of Ireland in August 2020 - 18 months after leaving part-time football with Glenavon in the Irish Premiership to join Oxford United - and was called up by Kenny in March this year but did not play.

Read more about his selection here.

Image source, Inpho

Work has not yet started on the site, but Belfast's Casement Park has been listed as one 14 venues in the UK and Republic of Ireland's joint bid dossier for hosting Euro 2028.

Dublin's Croke Park and Aviva Stadium, tonight's venue, are also included for now, with the five football associations having to submit a final list of 10 stadiums to Uefa in April 2023.

Read more about the joint bid to host Euro 2028 here.

Image source, Press Eye

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

This week's friendlies offer Republic boss Stephen Kenny the last chance to assess his squad before a daunting Euros qualifying campaign begins in March.

Erling Haaland may not be in Dublin tonight, but the Republic need to prepare for the likes of Kylian Mbappe (France) and Memphis Depay (Netherlands) coming to the Aviva Stadium in 2023.

Kenny makes four changes from the 3-2 win over Armenia last time out, with Josh Cullen, Callum Robinson, Alan Browne and Callum O'Dowda all recalled.

O'Dowda's selection is an interesting one as he may well line out at left wing-back. He's been used to a more attacking role for the Republic, but has played there for Cardiff.

Kenny will be hoping for a strong showing from O'Dowda's club-mate Robinson, too. The 27-year-old has not scored in his last seven Republic outings after last year's purple patch in which he hit six in the space of four games.

The crowd that has braved a chilly Dublin evening will hope to see Kenny hand debuts to uncapped quartet William Smallbone, Liam Scales, Mark Sykes and Evan Ferguson.

Image source, Getty Images

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny makes four changes to his side from their 3-2 win at home to Armenia in their last outing in September.

Into the side come Callum Robinson, Josh Cullen, Alan Browne and Callum O'Dowda, with Jeff Hendrick, Jason Knight, Robbie Brady and Troy Parrot dropping out.

There are four potential debutants amongst the Republic substitutes, with the uncapped Liam Sclaes, Mark Sykes, Evan Ferguson and Will Smallbone on the bench.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Right, let's get this one out of the way early then.

Erling Haaland will not be playing in Dublin tonight - and the Football Association of Ireland will no doubt be as disappointed about that as the Norwegian governing body.

The prospect of the Man City global superstar strutting his stuff at the Aviva Stadium would have been a major attraction for many fans buying tickets for tonight's game.

The disappointing news came through on Sunday evening that he was being rested after carrying a foot injury for a few weeks.

It increases the Republic's chances of picking up a win tonight, of course, but the Irish public will have to wait for a while yet before seeing Haaland in the flesh.

Image source, Getty Images

While they'd much prefer to be putting the final touches to preparations for taking part in the World Cup, it's a friendly at home to Norway that the Republic of Ireland have ahead of them tonight.

And it's a Norwegian side minus Erling Haaland, of course, with the Man City star being rested after recent injury problems.

Republic manager Stephen Kenny has stressed the importance of his side hitting the ground running when the Euro 2024 qualification campaign swings into action next spring.

With Malta to come on Sunday in the Irish team's final match of 2022, Kenny sees tonight's run-out as an ideal stepping stone towards fine-tuning his squad for those Euro qualifiers.

There are a few uncapped players in the squad for the Dublin encounter - will we see a few debutants during the 90 minutes?

We have you covered with live text commentary in the build-up and throughout the game, while our man Matt Gault is in the Aviva Stadium for the match report and reaction.

Image source, Inpho