Niamh Fahey and Ruesha Littlejohn start for Ireland in Cardiff

They have seen very little club action this season but Republic of Ireland boss Eileen Gleeson has rolled the dice by opting to start Niamh Fahey and Ruesha Littlejohn in tonight's Euro 2025 play-off first leg against Wales in Cardiff.

Fahey, 37, hasn't started a league game this season for Liverpool, though she did feature in her club's League Cup clash at Newcastle United last Sunday.

London City Lionesses midfielder Littlejohn has just 12 minutes of club action behind her ahead of this huge clash.

She gets the nod in the engine room alongside Birmingham City's Lily Agg, which will free up Denise O'Sullivan to play in a more advanced role at the tip of the middle three.

Heather Payne - in ahead of Abbie Larkin - returns to the line-up having been overlooked for the two legs of the 9-0 semi-final win against Georgia. She'll be on the right, with captain Katie McCabe likely to be stationed at left wing-back.

Kyra Carusa and Julie-Ann Russell get the opportunity to pair up again in attack as the Girls in Green chase a positive result ahead of Tuesday's return leg at Aviva Stadium.

Wales are unchanged from the side that started the second leg of their play-off against Slovakia. They needed extra-time to squeeze through having been inspired by their biggest star Jess Fishlock.

The 37-year-old will be the main danger again here in front of what will be a record crowd for a Wales women's crowd. It's anticipated around 22,000 fans will be in attendance.

Wales: Olivia Clark; Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd, Rhiannon Roberts; Lily Woodham, Angharad James-Turner (capt), Alice Griffiths, Ceri Holland; Jess Fishlock, Rachel Rowe, Ffionn Morgan

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Anna Patten, Niamh Fahey, Caitlin Hayes; Heather Payne, Ruesha