Katie McCabe is set to sit out tonight’s friendly against Zambia.
The Arsenal winger - who this week was named the club’s Player of the Season - only started training with her Ireland teammates on Monday.
So boss Vera Pauw says she is unlikely to throw her into this evening’s clash.
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“Katie came in fresh but she’s only had two football sessions in her legs since the end of the week so it’s not likely she’ll play,” said Pauw.
The Girls in Green chief was keen to organise a game against an African side ahead of Ireland’s World Cup clash against Nigeria in their final group game next month.
“It is getting used to the African style of play because that is really different to European, so we need to feel that, need to see that, need to experience that,” said Pauw.
“If you first experience that at the World Cup, you are too late.
“But also we want to develop our play, get our defensive organisation set in such a way that we can build an attack in a more constructive way.
“We have seen in the USA that we made steps forward and hopefully, you can see another step tomorrow.”
Describing the Zambian style of play, Pauw said: “Physically very strong, they are fast.
“I think we are better organised than they are so it will be a battle between a lot of individual qualities and us making use of our teamwork. That is what you will see (tonight).”
In other team news, striker Leanne Kiernan is in contention for an appearance, just weeks after her comeback from long-term injury with Liverpool.
Aoife Mannion is still in Manchester recovering from a knee injury, but she is being given every last opportunity to prove her fitness ahead of next Thursday’s squad selection.
“She is in a brace, as we know. That will go off on Monday and then we have to take a decision,” said Pauw.
“Everything has been going according to plan, but it’s really, really tight.
“We will see on Monday, we will give more updates and next week with the squad announcement we will know for sure whether we will take a chance or not.”
Looking ahead to that announcement, Pauw admitted that she was closing in on her final 23.
“Of course there is the core that we know,” she said. “But then (there are) the ones that we really, really want to find out and give the players the chance.”
