Heimir Hallgrimsson's first squad announcement is still three days away and yet it is fair to say that the new Ireland manager will already have a sense of what life will be like picking players for upcoming encounters.
The new season is barely underway across the Irish Sea but the familiar tales of injuries, inactive players and late transfer action will all play a part when it comes to picking the ensemble for upcoming performances against England and Greece.
A perennial headache for successive managers when attempting to build a strong squad and a starting XI around a core of key players.
The new man in charge appears to have passed the buck on his first formation with John O’Shea and Paddy McCarthy key to selecting the selection for these upcoming games.
Various ways to read that particular exchange, however, benefit of the doubt may be afforded on this occasion as the Icelandic coach attempts to maintain some semblance of continuity in his first camp.
What the opening weeks of the club campaign have shown is that very little has changed when it comes to the expected arrivals into the Castleknock camp for the Dublin double-header.
On the injury front, it looks as though Hallgrimsson must plan without a trio of key players as Evan Ferguson looks set to miss out, while there is a major concern over and Seamus Coleman and Josh Cullen.
New Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said that the club had to be "careful" in relation to Ferguson’s return to the first team squad as he continued to regain to full fitness following an end-of-season injury.
Ferguson also comes into the mix regarding transfer speculation, however, the new manager appears impressed with what he has seen so far from the striker in and around the first team squad.
"Evan came back after a long injury, so we have to be very careful," said Hurzeler. "Especially with young players who want to be on the pitch or want to be back as quick as possible. We need to settle them down and then do it step-by-step.
"I saw a lot of positive things and we will try to help him. We try to improve him and then he can be a really good striker in the Premier League.
"For me, the most important thing for a young player is his attitude and his character.
"He has started training with the team and you can already see why he's here, because he has great abilities and great skills for a striker."
Coleman picked up a calf injury in pre-season and while Everton boss Sean Dyche has been loudly lamenting his lack of fit players – emphasised by two comprehensive defeats in the first two outings – he was not certain that the Toffees stalwart would see action before the international break.
Dyche gave a squad update saying that he was not sure Coleman had "enough under his belt training-wise" ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash at home to Doncaster, but hoped he would be available for the weekend.
Cullen missed Burnley’s weekend defeat at Sunderland, and while manager Scott Parker is hopeful that the midfielder is available for this weekend’s home tie with Blackburn, he stipulated that there would be no international football for the midfielder if he does not line out at Turf Moor for Saturday’s early game.
"Josh will be touch and go for Saturday," said Parker. "It’s only a slight issue so hopefully he can make Saturday. If not, he will be ready for after the international break.
"If he doesn’t play on Saturday he won’t be ready for Ireland."
Robbie Brady is also struggling for fitness and will be interesting to see if he returns to the Preston squad for this weekend’s trip to Oxford.
Dara O’Shea missed out on Burnley’s trip to Sunderland as his move to Ipswich was imminent and since completed, as the defender joins Sammie Szmodics at Portman Road – they may be more Irish Tractor Boys before the end of the window.
Tom Cannon looks set to be on his way out of Leicester, while Mikey Johnston is also likely to leave Celtic and return to a Championship club.
Jake O’Brien proved to be the major Irish transfer of the summer, sealing a big money move to Everton, however, he has had to watch on from the sidelines as his new team shipped seven goals in two games as the new arrival warmed the bench.
All eyes were on Caoimhin Kelleher ahead of the season as it was expected that the Cork keeper would leave Liverpool in search of first team football.
Normal service resumed at Anfield as Kelleher sat on the bench for the opening two games but transfer talk of the imminent signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili as Allison Becker’s long-term replacement may act as the catalyst for a move before the window closes.
Most Premier League clubs would have started the season with established number ones already cemented in place for the new campaign, however, early appearances have shown that some are built on shaky foundations, which may tempt some into late business between the sticks.
On a more positive note, there has been plenty of Irish action on the pitch, offering the new manager a strong spine of the team ahead of the upcoming matches.
Nathan Collins is first choice at Brentford, and Liam Scales is starting at Celtic, while the aforementioned O’Shea should also challenge for a starting place at Ipswich straight away.
Andrew Omobamidele remains on the bench at Nottingham Forest, however, Shane Duffy is still commanding a starting spot at Norwich, while Matt Doherty is back in the Wolves XI.
Will Smallbone is also playing Premier League football, starting both Southampton’s opening encounters, and while Hallgrimsson has spoke of his desire for a b****** in midfield, he will be encouraged by Jayson Mollumby’s start to the season at West Brom. Finn Azaz and Jason Knight are both starting at Middlesbrough and Bristol City respectively.
Up front, Szmodics made an immediate mark at Ipswich, shocking Manchester City – albeit momentarily – with an early goal at the weekend.
And Troy Parrott has also picked up where he left off at the end of the season, playing regularly in the same division – the Dutch top flight – but with a different club, AZ Alkmaar, who are unbeaten in their opening three league games.
Adam Idah and Chiedozie Ogbene are fit and firing at Celtic and Luton respectively, while Michael Obafemi may get a new lease of life under Wayne Rooney at Plymouth.
The one area of concern for Hallgrimsson ahead of the England opener is in goal, which appeared to be the national team’s strongest department in recent years.
Gavin Bazunu may be back in the Premier League with Southampton, however, he remains a long way off returning to competitive action, while Mark Travers is again playing second fiddle to Neto in nets at Bournemouth.
If Hallgrimsson wants to play an active keeper in the upcoming games, it looks like he would have to call on Bristol City number one Max O’Leary, or former Manchester United prospect Kieran O’Hara who is playing in the top flight in Scotland at Kilmarnock.
David Harrington was called into the squad during the summer, however, Fleetwood Town are playing League 2 football and the new manager may not dip down through the divisions when other options are available.
However, should he decide to cast his net beyond the Championship level, perhaps he has made enquiries as to the availability of an old friend of the team; Wrexham have enjoyed a very good start to life in League 1 and James McClean is still shaking things up on that left hand side.
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