How have the Republic not scored there?!

Katie McCabe's corner falls to Denise O'Sullivan, who has a couple of bites at it but can't force the ball over the line from about six yards out.

Albania somehow scramble it clear. Biggest chance of the game so far.

Denise O'Sullivan picks up possession in a dangerous area but is caught flat-footed as Katie McCabe tries to find her with the return pass and Albania breathe a sigh of relief.

Thirteen minutes gone and no clear-cut chances yet.

Image source, Getty Images

A chance for the Republic as the ball falls to Kyra Carusa. She's unable to provide a convincing finish and Albania turn it behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.

It's pretty clear already that Albania will look to launch counters at every opportunity, but the Republic will boss possession.

Here come Albania on a promising attack, but a really poor pass by Mimoza Hamidi gifts possession back to the Republic.

The away side try to build up some forward momentum of their own, but it comes to nothing.

A low-key start.

Right, the anthems are done and we get underway at a largely empty Loro Borici Stadium in Shkoder.

Republic of Ireland

Eileen Gleeson has made two changes for the reverse fixture with Albania.

Sinead Farrelly will start her first game since the World Cup and teenage striker Erin McLaughlin will make her first senior start in attack with Kyra Carusa and Abbie Larkin.

Bristol City's Megan Connolly and West Ham's Izzy Atkinson are the players to make way.

On the bench, there's still no place for Amber Barrett but Lucy Quinn and Heather Payne have recovered from niggles to take their place as a sub. Claire O'Riordan and Megan Campbell also miss out on the 23.

Albania: Rexhepi, Gjini, Maliqi, Berisha, Hila, Krasniqi, Franja, Hamidi, Doci (c), Maksuti, Tukaj.

Subs: Hyska, Curraj, Toma, Bajraktari, Elezaj, Troka, Bashka, Gjeriji, Metalla.

Republic of Ireland: Brosnan, Hayes, Louise Quinn, Caldwell, McCabe (c), Toland, Farrelly, O'Sullivan, Larkin, McLaughlin, Carusa.

Subs: Moloney, Whitehouse, Payne, Mustaki, Connolly, Agg, Nolan, Lucy Quinn, Finn, Noonan, Whelan, Atkinson.

Image source, Getty Images

Here is how Group B1 is looking at the halfway mark of the Nations League.

Image source, Inpho

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI

There has been contrasting fortunes for the two neighbours in the Nations League to date.

The Republic of Ireland are flying, ably helped by Katie McCabe - who keeps getting better and better - and it would be a huge surprise if they don't finish in top spot.

That could be confirmed this evening if the Republic win and then Northern Ireland and Hungary draw.

Tanya Oxtoby's tenure to date has been full of promise and there is still a realistic chance of finishing in second place.

Revenge over Hungary at Seaview is a must if Northern Ireland are to keep their hopes alive.

Katie McCabe is in the form of her life right, which was backed up by her superb hat-trick in the reverse fixture with Albania on Friday evening.

She's also been pivotal for Arsenal and scored twice in their 2-1 win over Bristol City and also netted in injury-time to draw the Gunners level against Aston Villa before Alessia Russo hit an even later winner.

To top it all off, she was named the 22nd best player in the world at the Ballon d'Or ceremony last night. Many feel she should have been placed higher.

Can Albania stop her this evening?

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Katie McCabe produced a superb display as her hat-trick helped the Republic of Ireland hammer Albania 5-1 in the Women's Nations League in Dublin on Friday.

Megi Doci's shock equaliser cancelled out McCabe's fourth-minute goal but the Arsenal star's deflected effort put the Republic 2-1 ahead at half-time.

She turned provider by brilliantly setting up striker Kyra Carusa for goals in the 56th and 59th minute.

McCabe then completed her hat-trick nine minutes from time.

Diane Caldwell had been handed the captain's armband instead of regular skipper McCabe by interim manager Eileen Gleeson for the Tallaght Stadium contest as she became only the seventh Republic of Ireland women's international to reach 100 caps.

The Women's Nations League is flying by and we're back for more as both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are in action this evening.

The Republic have made a flying start to Group B1 and have maximum points after three games, scoring 13 goals in the process.

They are first in action away to Albania, who they beat 5-1 in Dublin on Friday, and can all but secure promotion with three points this evening. Kick-off is at 17:00 GMT.

Northern Ireland are next up at 19:00 GMT and will be looking to get revenge against a Hungary side who scored a last-minute winner in the reverse fixture on Friday.

You can watch the game at Seaview live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Press Eye