Of course, Ireland and Wales face Moldova and Georgia respectively on Friday.
But for a long time, there has been at least one eye trained on the Cardiff crescendo on Monday night which is likely to decide the fate of both team's playoff hopes.
Former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage joined us to look ahead to the occasion but started off by touching on the news that his former Leicester City manager Martin O'Neill has extended his contract in charge of Ireland.
"I can't believe how many people are so down about Martin O'Neill. I think he's done OK for you," he said, before touching on the wider Irish performance in the group.
"I was in Ireland recently and I can't believe all the negativity around Ireland's draw in Georgia. That draw came the same week Luxembourg went to France and drew 0-0.
"I've been to Georgia and to Moldova and these sorts of places with the international side and they're difficult places to go."
Giving us a bit of hope, Savage touched on Wales' defensive problems in light of poor form for captain and key centre half Ashley Williams at club level.
"The worry for me is defensively. Ashley Williams hasn't looked the same at Everton, Wayne Hennessey's conceding goals so...," he said, before Scotland's goal against Slovakia which he had just witnessed on TV interrupted him mid-flow.
And he also highlighted the Gareth Bale factor, with the Real Madrid winger missing the clash for Wales.
"We'll miss him, no doubt about it, but I think that's why Wales with Bale are different, just have the edge over teams like Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic. We've seen it in the Euros with Bale's moment of magic against Northern Ireland led to that own goal, we've seen it when he's played against Scotland in the past and not so much against the Republic," said the BT Sport pundit.
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