So this is a way-feeler, a bearings-gatherer. There's little doubt that the time between now and Wednesday night is of much more importance than the actual game itself, although Staunton will be gratified by the fact that Sweden will have their best side out for the first half at least. That means Henrik Larsson, it means Zlatan Ibrahimovic, it means Freddie Ljungberg. It means 45 minutes of international football with only a hint of phoney war.

But most of what Staunton will take away from the week is what happens in the next three days. His first group talk, his first session, his oneon-one chats with this player and that. He'll want to introduce and integrate Kevin MacDonald and set the tone for how training is going to go.

And he'll want to set about this spirit business. There's a fair chance it's been overplayed at times since Brian Kerr's departure, with people talking as if Ireland couldn't manage a win home or away against Israel just because they don't play Sean South on the team bus any more. But there's little doubt that Staunton sees as a major part of his job a lifting of the general mood of the place and he'll want to set his ideas in train right from the off.

There's talk of him bringing back the I-Had-A-Macedonia yellow jersey for the worst performer at training. Hokey?

Oh, just a bit. But if it works, it works.

As for the likely personnel, he's made no bones about the fact that he needs his uncapped players to see game-time between now and September so it wouldn't be a complete shock to see the freshest possible faces line up for the anthem. Kevin Doyle is a definite starter, Stephen Kelly, Joey O'Brien and Stephen Ireland dead(ish) certs beyond that. Giving Liam Lawrence at least a half would be admirable outsidethe-box thinking, although chances are Wayne Henderson will have to take a ticket and stand in line for a while.

In the greater scheme of things, Wednesday night doesn't matter. But try telling that to anyone making their debut or to the manager who hands it to them. It matters in that it's the start. Of something special? Of something underwhelming? Only they . . .and he . . . can decide how that one works out.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v SWEDEN Wednesday, Lansdowne Road, 7.45 Live, Sky Sports 2, 7.30; Deferred coverage, TV3, 10.00