Women's World Cup European qualifying Group D: Austria v Northern Ireland (Wiener Neustadt, 7.30pm Irish time, live on BBC iPlayer and BBC NI website)
HAVING mentioned 'the Greatest' - Muhammad Ali - Northern Ireland women's manager Kenny Shiels is hoping that their new all-green kit can bring out 'the Best' from his players against Austria tonight.
Shiels knocked back a suggestion that he may have been replicating legendary former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, who changed the Anfield club's home shorts from white to red with the intention of making them appear more intimidating.
However, he did express the desire for his side to put in a performance worthy of another working class hero, commenting: "I have no input into that - I have no input into a lot of things - but it was shown to me and I can remember George Best wearing green shorts, quite vividly. He made the kit look good so hopefully we can do the country proud."
The Maghera man is often ebullient pre-match, but on this occasion he mostly adopted a tone of talking up the opposition, accepting that Austria are entitled to expect victory tonight.
"They're a very hardworking team, their commitment to getting results is massive, really, really high intensity… I just hope we can cope with that.
Yet later during his lengthy media briefing, he did note that "Austria have disrespected us in some of the things that they have said, and that's music to our ears."
NI have also been tuning up with full-time training funding this year by the public, via Stormont, which has been welcomed by their boss:
"We're open to all avenues of support, and we've have some since January especially. The support mechanisms don't mean that people will win a game, but it brings professionalism to the place, and helps the girls understand a pathway for them. Hopefully they will avail of that and get to 'across the water' clubs."
Although Rebecca Holloway's recent move from Birmingham City to Racing Louisville has taken her to Muhammad Ali's hometown, that also means Simone Magill at Everton is the only NI player at an English Women's Super League club - and she's not playing regularly for the Toffee ladies.
Leading scorer Rachel Furness has earned promotion back to the top flight with their cross-city rivals, Liverpool Ladies, but Shiels is concerned - and puzzled - that more of his players aren't in the WSL.
Austria still have a Covid concern over their captain Viktoria Schnaderbeck of Spurs, so have called up cover at centre half, but still have superior talent, at least on paper.
On the grass, Shiels believes his players can rise to the occasion again: "Of course we're positive. We wouldn't go out on that pitch without being positive. We're coming to win, that's what we're about - although it doesn't mean we will win…."
Will NI's best be good enough?
