Preview: Ireland can test experimental Belgium

Six games unbeaten, four consecutive clean sheets - the Republic of Ireland will be looking to carry their fine form from the tail end of the 2021 calendar into the first window of 2022.

That fine run of results were borne out of a defeat, as it happened, the morale-boosting and confidence-lifting performance in the Algarve where Ireland led 1-0 in the 89th minute but would eventually fall to two late Cristiano Ronaldo goals.

Now, with the arrival of the world number one-ranked side, the odds would suggest that the run might come to an end, however, the manager has promised that his side will not go down without a fight.

'The fighting Irish' is a never-say-die attitude that has been instilled in this team over the past 30-odd years, however, the physicality in this particular contest may well come from the visitors, who have blended a combination of skill and strength that has proved most effective over the past decade.

This new-look Ireland team do not set out their stall as an aggressor, but rather look to play through the lines, while still maintaining a strong emphasis on organisation and defensive stability, and the requisite Irish beef will also match those mussels from Brussels in the key areas.

Four months have passed since that impressive spell from this Ireland side, and on this occasion, the winter break seems to have been more a hindrance than a help as the momentum that was built over three consecutive windows will naturally have stalled.

Kenny will again look to showcase the progress that has been made over the past nine months, reminding his side of the strong performances that were shown twice against Portugal, as well as the home tie with Serbia, while also replaying those convincing victories against the