Denmark v Republic of Ireland:A Premiership player and senior international just a couple of years after plying his trade with Waterford United, Daryl Murphy admitted at the weekend he's "living the dream" these days.
Tonight in Aarhus the 24-year-old may well earn his third cap in a game between two teams preparing to improve their hopes of Euro 2008 qualification.
Like Ireland, Denmark's face an uphill struggle and they won't be helped by having to play October's two competitive home games against Liechtenstein and Spain outside Copenhagen, a punishment for one supporter's stupidity during the closing stages of June's meeting with the Swedes, who were subsequently awarded a 3-0 victory after the tie was abandoned.
The Danes now desperately need to take something from the return match against their neighbours, which takes place on the day Ireland could do with taking all three points against Slovakia.
Morten Olsen and his men will use tonight's game as something of a dress rehearsal. From Steve Staunton's point of view, though, ahead of the visits to Bratislava and Prague, a game in the capital would have suited better than a low-key night in a ground with a capacity of 20,000.
Robbie Keane's assertion yesterday that all international friendlies are important - "because you're playing for your country, the result matters, you're looking to get your shape right or whatever else the manager wants to do" - might not reflect the diversity of views within the game when it comes to such occasions, but a good performance, a win and some strong showings from younger players would provide a significant boost to Staunton ahead of much tougher tests to come.
With the Ireland manager, whose father died at the weekend, having spent as much time as possible with his family in Dundalk prior to the squad's departure from Dublin yesterday, there is no real indication of his plans for the game.
His coach, Kevin MacDonald, said yesterday the decision not to replace the players who have withdrawn from the squad over the last few days had been taken by Staunton on the basis that, "he wants to give a few of the lads already in the squad a bit more playing time".
That seems likely to be good news for Murphy, Darren Potter and Andy Keogh, all of whom advanced their causes while in America at the start of the summer.
With Lee Carsley allowed to stay at home with his family, and Graham Kavanagh out of favour at Sunderland and expected to move on soon, Potter would appear to stand the best chance of starting, though much will depend on how Staunton decides to deploy Stephen Hunt, Kevin Kilbane and Andy Reid.
All are naturally left-sided players but each has shown an ability to play in at least one other position.
Reid is currently occupying a central role at Charlton while Kilbane has, more often than not, played there over the last couple of years at this level.
Indeed, the Wigan midfielder successfully chaperoned Potter in the games against Ecuador and Bolivia and looks the obvious choice to partner the former Liverpool player on this occasion.
The loss of Paul McShane means that John O'Shea looks certain to partner Richard Dunne in the heart of defence, though Stephen Kelly may feature in the position at some point, as he did in Boston against Bolivia.
Murphy, meanwhile, will almost certainly make an early entrance from the bench, if he doesn't actually start.
The Sunderland striker has made dramatic progress over the past year and looks capable of making an impact at this level.
Staunton, though, will presumably afford Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane the opportunity to get reacquainted, while there are stronger candidates for the berths either side of a four-man midfield. Only if the manager changes his formation is the 24-year-old likely to start.
Colin Doyle and Wayne Henderson could each make a case for starting in goal. But whoever gets the nod will be conscious that, given the lingering uncertainly over Shay Given's fitness, he might well find himself lining out for the next two qualifiers too.
While acknowledging the Preston player's mistake in San Marino, though, Staunton has repeatedly been positive about Henderson, and the Dubliner will probably start.
Olsen's attacking options are sure to keep him busy, with the likes of Dennis Rommedahl, Jesper Gronkjaer and the hugely prolific Jon Dahl Tomasson in the forward line.
"That's why this game is so beneficial," says Keane, who will against captain the team. "The younger players get some experience and we get a work-out before the big games coming up.
"The scale of the transition over the past couple of years has been absolutely massive and hopefully we'll see in the next few games that we're getting it right."
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (probable): Henderson (Preston NE); Carr (Newcastle Utd), Dunne (Manchester City), O'Shea (Manchester Utd), Finnan (Liverpool); Reid (Charlton Ath), Potter (Wolves), Kilbane (Wigan Ath), Hunt (Reading); Doyle (Reading), Keane (Tottenham).
DENMARK: Christiansen (FC Copenhagen); Bogelund (Borussia Monchengladbach), Gravgaard (FC Copenhagen), Agger (Liverpool), N Jensen (FC Copenhagen); Wurtz (FC Copenhagen), D Jensen (Werder Bremen), Tomasson (Villareal); Rommedahl (Ajax), Bendtner (Arsenal), Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen).
Venue: NRGi Park Kick-off: 7pm On TV: Sky Sports 2
