Shane Duffy doesn't expect to turn into Superman on the pitch tonight as Ireland's latest skipper - or that he'll have to deliver an inspirational dressing-room speech beforehand.
It was yesterday morning, on his way to Abbotstown, that Mick McCarthy took him aside and handed him the captaincy for the first time for the crucial clash with Denmark.
"It hasn’t really sunk in yet," said Duffy. "It’s a huge honour and something to be excited about.
"I can’t let it really affect me - just come on, be the same and just take it in my stride, really.
"If I didn’t have the armband on, I’d class myself as a leader anyway in the changing room.
“It’s football, it’s part of it. I don’t think he would have given me it if I wasn’t ready for it.
“He knows me and hopefully I can take it all in my stride. I’m excited, but probably my family are more excited than me.
“It’s another game for me and if I didn’t have the armband I’d still be the same sort of leader - I’d throw my body on the line and hopefully try to get a goal for the lads, if we need it.
"But I don’t think I can change much anyway - don’t expect me to run through 10 players!"
Duffy finished the World Cup qualifying play-off against tonight's opponents as captain two years ago but this is the first time he'll wear the armband from the start.
He previously skippered the Ireland under-21s, and, at club level, he led out Blackurn Rovers and has led out Brighton.
As for having to say something special before kick-off, Duffy believes that won't be necessary given what's at stake.
“I don’t think so, no," he said. "If you look at the team, there is a lot of experience there now.
“They don’t need me telling them that this is a big game. I think everyone knows.
“It’s just maybe little details, making sure everyone is switched on, stuff like that, and making sure we're ready and we know what we're in for.
“We stick together out there, no matter if someone is having a bad game or if someone is making a mistake - you just pick them up off the floor.
“That’s what I do when I don’t have the armband".
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