Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy and his squad are determined to kickstart their World Cup qualifying-bid today with a decisive triumph over Malta and end a 22-month winless run at Windsor Park.
"That record simply isn't good enough. Indeed, it's embarrassing and our supporters deserve better," said McIlroy, who succeeded Lawrie McMenemy last January at the end of a Euro 2000 series which sent Northern Ireland's FIFA ranking plummeting to 95th.
McIlroy feels Windsor Park has lost much of its hostility and he has asked the fans to help recreate that old atmosphere against Malta today.
"We want to get back to the days when teams knew it would not be easy. Years ago it was an intimidating place and you could see in the other players' eyes that they did not fancy coming here."
McIlroy is boosted by the availability of his first-choice back-line, and linchpin Gerry Taggart is back from injury.
The manager hopes Taggart can make an impact at both ends. "He's got seven goals and the majority of them are from set pieces so we will be pushing the big man up all the time."
Northern Ireland will adopt an attacking policy aimed at providing service to David Healy, the Manchester United reserve striker who has scored four goals in four internationals.
McIlroy is down to 17 players following the withdrawals of Neil Lennon, Keith Gillespie and Danny Griffin and he will draft in a replacement from the under21s following their match against Malta at the Oval.
Meanwhile, a throat infection is jeopardising Don Hutchison's chances of masterminding a Scotland victory over Latvia in Riga today.
With Craig Brown's resources already stretched by injuries to Craig Burley, Kevin Gallacher and Paul Lambert, the Scotland manager must decide whether to employ Hutchison in midfield or up front, that is, if he is able to play at all.
Wales open their Group Five qualifying campaign away to Belarus today and manager Mark Hughes believes Ryan Giggs is playing the best football of his life.
"Ryan is absolutely flying - his form is the best of his career and I am just grateful he's Welsh," said Hughes.
The last time Wales were in Minsk, Giggs scored a dramatic late winner to clinch a 2-1 success in a Euro 2000 qualifier almost a year ago.
NORTHERN IRELAND (probable): Carroll (Wigan); Nolan (Bradford), Murdock (Preston), Taggart (Leicester), Hughes (Newcastle); Johnson (Blackburn), Magilton (Ipswich), Lomas (West Ham, captain), Horlock (Manchester City), Elliott (Glentoran); Healy (Manchester United)
MALTA (probable): Barry (Sliema); Chetcuti (Valletta), Debono (Valletta), Said (Floriana), Theuma (Valletta); Brincat (B'Kara), Camilleri (Sliema), Carabott (Hibernians), Turner (Sliema); Busuttil (Sliema) captain, Zahra (B'Kara)
Referee: Taras Bezubiak (Russia)
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