Ireland watch on as Scots look to unravel the Austrians

There was a familiar ring to Jen Beattie's words when the Scotland defender said this week: "Being a professional footballer when I was a kid didn't exist."

Many of the Republic of Ireland players who are currently in camp preparing for Tuesday's World Cup play-off have expressed similar sentiments.

Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell, Katie McCabe... how can you dream of playing for Liverpool, Manchester United or Arsenal if the possibility doesn't even exist?

Of course, times have changed.

This week's World Cup play-offs now offer these footballers a tantalising glimpse of the grandest of stages; one the Irish players have never experienced before.

As Vera Pauw said last week: "You cannot imagine what [World Cup qualification] will do. It will bring in sponsors, people who want to work harder, facilities and leagues. The whole game will explode."

Ireland will gather in front of a big screen on Thursday night to watch Scotland take on Austria at Hampden Park [7.35pm kick-off] in round one of the play-offs, knowing they will travel to face the winners on Tuesday.

Pauw won't be drawn on who she'd prefer but a reunion with Scotland would be emotional - she managed them for six years from 1998 to 2004.

Pedro Martinez Losa's are in good recent form having swept past Ukraine 4-0 and the Faroe Islands 6-0 in their last two qualifiers, with a 2-1 friendly defeat to the Netherlands sandwiched in between.

Scottish midfielder Christie Murray is surrounded by Irish players at her club Birmingham City [Jamie Finn, Harriet Scott, Lucy Quinn, Emily Whelan and Eleanor Ryan Doyle all ply their trade with the Blues].

Having featured at Euro 2017 and the 2019 World Cup, Murray wants another taste of the big time.

"I think it just makes you all the more