Preview: Destiny calling ahead of huge Hampden battle

Nobody could say the Republic of Ireland's journey to the cusp of World Cup qualification has been easy.

The road's been long, with many a winding turn. And some of these players have been there every step of the day, from the darkest corners of Liberty Hall, where the players had to fight for the heart and soul of the women's game, to the bright lights of Hampden Park.

By 10pm tonight, Ireland may have achieved their Holy Grail.

But it will not be easy

They face a tough, direct Scottish side who are sprinkled with quality. Caroline Weir of Real Madrid, Kim Little - Katie McCabe's captain at Arsenal - and Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert are three fantastic players and they're surrounded by solid operators who are well set up by Spaniard Pedro Martinez Losa, the man who brought McCabe to the Gunners from Shelbourne back in 2015.

"We will be absolutely ready in our capacities and we will see if it's good enough."

"Yeah he signed me as a young kid with a dream to play for Arsenal," McCabe reflected on Monday evening.

"I was fortunate to play under him and then I left on loan to get more game time, which was great, came to Scotland [to Glasgow City], learned a lot, picked up a trophy and came back.

"It is nice to see him have the Scotland job now."

That, rest assured, is where the niceties will end. These two teams know each other well, with many of the players facing off every weekend in the Women's Super League.

Their styles are not dissimilar. Certainly Austria - who Scotland beat the play-off first round last Thursday - would have posed a very different kind of threat to the Irish.

A tight bruising battle is anticipated, with extra-time, maybe even penalties, a real possibility.

"We know where we stand and we know that Scotland is favoured