What is success against this vastly superior England?

What do we expect of the Republic of Ireland when they take on England at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening?

There's been dreamy talk all week of the good old days when Ireland would go into games against the old enemy legitimately believing they could prevail, but we've enjoyed a grand total of two victories in 17 meetings with the neighbours: a 2-0 win at Goodison Park in 1949, and the 1-0 success in Stuttgart at Euro 88.

Sorry Joxer, the gulf has arguably never been bigger.

It's nine years since the English came to Dublin. Seven of Ireland's starting lineup in that scoreless friendly were playing in the Premier League: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Marc Wilson (Stoke City), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Robbie Brady (Hull City, soon to join Norwich City), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), James McCarthy (Everton) and Aiden McGeady (Everton).

Martin O'Neill was also able to bring on Shane Long (Southampton), James McClean (West Brom), Jon Walters (Stoke City), Shay Given (Stoke City) and Harry Arter (Bournemouth).

That's 12 Premier League players in total. Ireland's squad for the Saturday's showdown actually has 13, but not many could claim to be nailed-on starters.

The old stalwart Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolves), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Chiedozie Ogbene (Ipswich Town), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool) and Mark Travers (Bournemouth) are the Premier League players Heimir Hallgrimsson has at his disposal.

Within that baker's dozen there's two back-up keepers, two centre-halves yet to play a minute in the