The European World Cup play-off draw takes place at 1pm from FIFA's headquarters in Zurich.
The format is that sides in pot 1 (Croatia, Denmark, Italy and Switzerland), will be drawn against sides in pot 2 (Greece, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and Sweden).
It will take a monumental effort from the 'Boys in Green' to secure a place at the World Cup draw on December 1 in Russia as all four of Ireland's potential opponents are ranked inside the top 20 of FIFA's world rankings.
If you would like to know more about our potential play-off opponents, we have reviewed their qualification campaigns here.
Best case scenario for Ireland:
As they are the lowest ranked side, Denmark would be the best case scenario for Ireland.
Worst case scenario for Ireland:
Although the Swiss are the highest ranked side, drawing them would not be the worst case scenario. While there's an argument the Croatia of Modric, Rakitic and Mandzukic would cause us the most problems, the team we most want to avoid is Italy.
Italy are four time winners of the World Cup, having last won in 2006. While we did beat them in Euro 2016, a World Cup without Italy seems unimaginable. They last failed to qualify in 1958. One fears they'll find a way of making it one way or another. Better to avoid that.
