Rep of Ireland v Israel, Lansdowne Road, Saturday, kick-off 7.30: Like his Irish opposite number, it's said Israeli manager Avraham Grant is in the market for a new contract with his current one due to run out next year.
Like the FAI, though, the Israeli association is not biting just yet and there are those among the visiting media who believe the coach's mind games during the build-up to this World Cup qualifier in Dublin have been aimed as much at his own employers as this weekend's hosts.
Grant is, all at once, both respectful of Ireland's status as strong favourites to win tomorrow and adamant, as he put it last night after arriving in Dublin, that Israel "are one of the group's big four now," that they, "come here as equals". He has also over the past few days made a good deal of Ireland's record at Lansdowne Road, but the fear of the place, it turns out, clearly hasn't spread to his players.
As one, star midfielder Yossi Benayoun, took to the field for training last night he was asked by a local television reporter if he thought he and his team-mates could silence the "Lansdowne Roar". Momentarily the 24-year-old stared blankly at the interviewer before catching on. "Ah, is that what you call the place?"
In terms of status, Benayoun is sort of Israel's Roy Keane and then some, but few amongst the visiting party would argue that he's simply a big fish in a rather smaller pond. Asked about the Corkman, Grant played down the importance of his suspension, insisting that the depth contained within the Ireland squad means the Manchester United player will not be missed nearly so badly as his own Tal Ben Haim or Walid Badir.
"Israel has only one premier league player (Ben Haim)," he said, "while Ireland has many, but Keane is one of my favourite players. Still there will be another good player to take his place."
Similarly, he observed, not even the absence of both Steve Carr and Steve Finnan would seriously hamper the Irish in defence with both of the most likely replacements being well established players at major English clubs.
His critics suspect that Grant's negotiating purposes would be well enough served by his team avoiding defeat in any of the six games against major group rivals even if six draws would not be enough to secure Israel a top two finish. The coach, however, is vaguely dismissive of suggestions that his side are other than serious qualification candidates.
"We're a small country with a team that is going through changes so of course we are happy with the results so far," he says. "But we are not at the end of the group yet and none of the big four has won home or away and Israel is definitely part of that big four.
"Generally speaking, we are not at the highest level yet and in theory France and Ireland have better teams than us. Brazil and Portugal came here but didn't manage to score so of course it's a challenge for us.
"But sometimes things do not go quite as people expect," he added with a grin. "Both France and Ireland thought they would take the points at the Ramat Gan in Israel, but they didn't."
Still a draw looks to be the target with team skipper Avi Nimni admitting that a point would represent "an excellent result for us" even though he insisted the visitors would not completely kill off the game.
The coach, who has identified Damien Duff as the key figure in the Irish team, also claimed his tactics would be broadly similar to those employed in the home games where his side came from behind to secure draws against Switzerland, Ireland and France. Only minor adjustments, he says, will be made to counter what he sees as the home side's strengths tomorrow.
He has had a couple of minor injury worries this week, but all appear to have cleared up with goalkeeper Dudu Awat confident of playing and striker Pini Balili now apparently fit to start.
From the Irish camp, meanwhile, there was no firm news of Finnan, who remains highly unlikely to feature, but Gary Doherty underwent an MRI scan on his knee after which it was said he is likely to be fit enough to play some part if needed.
