Davis: Players’ familiarity will add intensity
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Along with McClean, the Northern Ireland team is friendly with a number of the Republic men having played alongside or against them during their club careers. Indeed, Davis is good pals with his Southampton team-mate and Republic striker Shane Long, who misses the match through injury.
Set to win his 106th cap in Dublin, Davis states the fact there is a familiarity will only add to the intensity of the game.
Both Northern Ireland and the Republic have only won twice in 10 games, so it is a statistic each side is desperate to rectify.
The 34-year old says: “The players are very familiar with each other and it’s like playing any of the home nations, there’ll be that edge to the game.
“It’ll be a game that both teams will be desperate to come out and get a result in, especially with the results the way they’ve been for both in recent times.
“There’ll be a real determination for us to go out and get a result and take something back up the road and set us up nicely for Sunday.”
Central midfielder Davis is coming into this friendly encounter having not played since Northern Ireland’s defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina four weeks ago, with Saints boss Mark Hughes even omitting him from his 18-player matchday squad.
Davis is grateful for tonight’s match and Sunday’s clash with Austria to once again not only help Northern Ireland, but showcase his talents on a big stage, with a possible return to Rangers likely to be in the offing when the January transfer window opens, with Hughes set to cast an eye over proceedings.
“It’s never easy when you are not playing,” stresses Davis.
“You are always trying to do enough to make sure you are sharp enough but, obviously, that really only comes about by playing games. I need to just keep my head down and hopefully get an opportunity.
“I still believe that I have a lot of quality and a lot to give.”