The word "playoff" is one that might send shivers down the spine of some Ireland fans.
Over the years, the boys in green have a mixed record in the do-or-die decider games, with both agony and ecstasy in the push to reach major tournaments.
Heimir Hallgrímsson's current Ireland team are halfway there in their Nations League relegation playoff against Bulgaria, but fans of a certain vintage will no all too well not to count any chickens until they are hatched.
Ahead of Sunday night's second leg, we've looked back on two memorable playoff second legs that went Ireland's way...and two that didn't.
(Fingers crossed Sunday's game fits the former category)
READ HERE: Roy Keane Was Not Having Nonsense Argument About Misfiring England Star
READ HERE: Ireland's Journey To Tehran In 2001: An Away Trip Unlike Any Other
Ireland in playoffs: The ups and downs
EURO 2012: Ireland 1-1 Estonia (5-1 aggregate)
15 November 2011; The scoreboard at the final whistle with a message of congratulations for Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni following his side's qualification for for EURO2012. UEFA EURO2012 Qualifying Play-off 2nd leg, Republic of Ireland v Estonia, Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
Ireland had been pretty poor through qualifying for EURO 2012 but had managed to sneak into the playoffs thanks in no small part to a titanic Richard Dunne performance in a 0-0 draw in Moscow.
After years of misfortune with qualifying draws, the Boys in Green finally got a stroke of luck by drawing the minnows of Estonia. By half-time, the tie was already over, with Giovanni Trapattoni's side romping to a 4-0 win in Tallinn.
There was a party atmosphere in Dublin the following Tuesday, as Ireland secured qualification for a major tournament for the first time in a decade. The less said about the finals in Poland, the better...
EURO 2016: Ireland 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina (3-1 aggregate)
16 November 2015; Jonathan Walters, Republic of Ireland, celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game with team-mate Richard Keogh. UEFA EURO 2016 Championship Qualifier, Play-off, 2nd Leg, Republic of Ireland v Bosnia and Herzegovina. Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
The Ireland team that qualified for EURO 2016 was a more deserving one, having come through a tricky group in style. Germany and Poland qualified automatically but Ireland were more than worth their 3rd-placed finish, having taken one of their most famous wins over the defending world champions in Dublin.
That result, as well as injury-time equalisers away to both Germany and Poland, ensured Ireland finished ahead of Scotland and reached the playoffs.
After a brave draw through the astonishing fog of Sarajevo in the first leg, Ireland got the job done on home soil in the second leg, with Jonathan Walters' double seeing Martin O'Neill's team over the line. Thankfully, the EUROs in France were a far more memorable experience than Poland had been four years prior.
1998 World Cup: Belgium 2-1 Ireland (3-1 aggregate)
We won't speak of Macedonia but let's just say that qualifying for the 1998 World Cup was a tricky endeavour for Ireland.
The first post-Jack Charlton campaign saw Ireland drawn against Belgium in the playoffs. In his programme notes, manager Mick McCarthy said, "I think everyone in Ireland is excited that we have drawn the Belgians. Conversely I think the people of Belgium are equally happy they will be playing the Irish."
A creditable 1-1 draw in the first leg had Ireland travelling to Brussels with hope. But, with one fell swoop, that hope was to evaporate.
David Connolly's contentious red card was to swing the game in favour of the hosts, who won 2-1 on the night thanks to Luc Nilis' goal 20 minutes from time.
The decision to send Connolly off was described by one of our followers on Instagram as "a real Henry moment." Speaking of which...
2010 World Cup: France 1-1 Ireland (a.e.t., 2-1 aggregate)
18 November 2009; Republic of Ireland players, from left, Kevin Kilbane, Shay Given, Sean St. Ledger and Keith Andrews remonstrate with officals after William Gallas scored his side's goal. FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Play-off 2nd Leg, Republic of Ireland v France, Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris. Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
Have Ireland had a better away performance in the past 15 or so years than Paris in 2009? Trap's team were chasing a 1-0 deficit from the first leg but they were fully value for their half-time lead in the Stade de France when Robbie Keane levelled the tie with a tidy finish.
We all know what happened in extra time and how Thierry Henry made himself public enemy number one in these parts. This author has spent the following decade-and-a-half wondering what might have happened if Damien Duff had made it 2-0 from his one-on-one, and we never even got to that point.
That's not a slight against Duff. He and his teammates were immense on the night, undone by one of the great refereeing injustices in football history.
Ireland face Bulgaria in the second leg of the Nations League B playoffs on Sunday night. Kick-off at the Aviva Stadium is at 7:45pm, with the game live on RTÉ 2.
SEE ALSO: The Resolute Ireland Team Heimir Should Pick To Finish The Job Against Bulgaria
