We have to get into a strong position: Davis
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O’Neill and his men have stressed the importance of pocketing maximum points in this week’s double-header to apply some early pressure on their group rivals.
Although the side have gone eight competitive internationals without a win and endured a disappointing Nations League campaign, the Euro 2016 heroics and World Cup qualifying campaign which ended in play-off heartbreak point to a team which can fight bravely against the odds.
“Clearly it’s a very difficult group and draw we’ve been given, but these two games give us an opportunity to get off to a positive start,” said Davis, who is on loan at the Gers from Southampton. “Playing Estonia and Belarus first, we need to put ourselves in a position to do something in the group.
“It’s good there’s an expectation because of the success we’ve had over the last few years. We’ve got to try and play on the front foot, see how the game pans out in terms of getting an early goal. We can’t force things too much.”
In that forgettable Nations League campaign, O’Neill’s men lost all four matches against Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
But there is still more belief in this Northern Ireland squad than back in 2011 when Estonia won both fixtures, 4-1 in Tallinn and 2-1 in Belfast.
Davis netted in the Windsor Park game but that was little consolation when hopes of Euro 2012 qualification turned to dust.
“I remember the game (2011 v Estonia),” said Davis. “It was a huge disappointment for us, but it was a long time ago and this is not about revenge. We have to try and focus on ourselves and show the qualities we’ve shown over the last few years.”
Davis, McAuley and Kyle Lafferty have had limited first-team action at Rangers.
The 34-year-old, who will win his 108th cap against Estonia, added: “I was hoping to get regular game time.
“It’s not panned out the way I would like. I’m feeling quite good but need a regular run of games to get to the level you want.”
Meanwhile, George Saville’s Middlesbrough team-mate Paddy McNair is another one of the Northern Ireland players struggling to seal first-team action.
“Me and Paddy are close friends and we speak all the time. One thing I can say is his attitude is first class,” said Saville. “He maybe hasn’t got the game time he wants, but every day in training he’s working hard and getting himself right.
“The last few weeks he’s probably been getting himself right for this trip because it’s maybe an opportunity for him to get game time.
“He loves coming away like the rest of us, coming back to Belfast and playing, and hopefully we can do the country proud.”