Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy will find himself with the boot on the other foot later this month when he sends off several of his first-team players on international duty.
The former Republic of Ireland manager will wait anxiously for some of his central figures to return, hopefully unscathed, as he attempts to drag the club away from the brink of relegation with time rapidly running out.
Ironically, it will be the FAI who hold the fortunes of midfield duo Kevin Kilbane and Jason McAteer in their hands after call-ups for the European Championship qualifiers against Georgia and Albania on March 28th and April 1st respectively.
In addition, young defender George McCartney has been selected for Northern Ireland's qualifiers against Armenia on March 29th and then Greece on April 2nd.
The trio will head off after Saturday's must-win Barclaycard Premiership trip to West Ham and are due to return ahead of the visit of Chelsea to the Stadium of Light on April 5th.
Meanwhile, full-back Steve Wright, who damaged a hamstring during Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Bolton, is a doubt for the game at Upton Park.