Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has stressed the importance of Saturday's friendly against Holland to his side's World Cup campaign.
While Bert van Marwijk's side are making their final preparations for Euro 2012, one could be forgiven for seeing the match as a low-key end-of-season affair for the visitors.
With the likes of Aaron Hughes, Steven Davis, Jonny Evans, Chris Brunt, Chris Baird and Gareth McAuley all injured or otherwise unavailable, it will certainly not be O'Neill's first-choice side that steps out at the Amsterdam Arena.
But he is treating the fixture, just his second in charge of the national side, as vital preparation for the challenges ahead - primarily two tricky away trips later this year.
"You have to approach it the same way as you would approach a qualification game," said O'Neill.
"You try and get home with some type of positive result and that's exactly how we'll approach this match.
"We've got to go to Russia in September and then Portugal in October and we'll approach those games in a very similar fashion to this one.
"The Dutch team are probably better than either of those sides but the experience of being out here - in such a magnificent arena to play in - will be invaluable when we go into those qualification games."
Sammy Clingan edged out fellow midfielder Grant McCann to be named as captain for the match, with O'Neill praising the Coventry's skipper's leadership skills.
The Sky Blues were relegated from the npower Championship last season but O'Neill was impressed by Clingan's performances in the face of adversity.
"Sammy is captain of his club and he has captained them through a very difficult season," he said.
"At times that is when you develop your true qualities as a captain. It's much more difficult to be a captain when things are tough than when things are going well.
"With the season Sammy's had behind him at Coventry and given the area of the pitch he's going to play in, he's the natural choice."
Clingan needs no reminding of Holland's quality but is enthused about the prospect of leading his country out against them.
"It's great to be with the national team and coming up against some of the best players in the world, testing yourself against them," he said.
"Some of the younger lads out here are with us for the first time and everyone's really looking forward to stepping out at the Amsterdam Arena against a side who are expecting the challenge for the Euros."
O'Neill has a number of selection calls to make for the match, with a host of players vying for places in a much-changed side.
Veteran goalkeeper Roy Carroll is back with Northern Ireland after a lengthy exile and is hoping to win a 20th cap, six years after his last, and could share the 90 minutes with number one Lee Camp.
Daniel Lafferty impressed last term with Burnley and is eyeing a debut on the left of defence, but must battle Ryan McGivern for that place after he impressed against Norway in February.
James McPake is also hoping for a first cap after transferring his allegiance from Scotland, while both Will Grigg and Rory Donnelly are preparing for their international bows up front.
The only member of the original 24-man squad to be unavailable is Hull midfielder Corry Evans, who has flown home with tonsilitis.
