The Irish squad has been announced for this month's friendly with Turkey, and while most have been pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of five new faces, it's the battle of two men who have been around the camp quite a bit that has the public intrigued.
While Shane Long had been Ireland's undisputed first choice striker since Robbie Keane's retirement, the Southampton man has gone through a tough time in front of goal over the past 18 months, and his position in the starting lineup is in jeopardy from Aston Villa's Scott Hogan and Sean Maguire.
The pair have been among the goals recently in the Championship, though Kevin Kilbane believes Maguire is slightly ahead of the Villa star, a stark contrast to the pecking order in early 2017.
Speaking on the Keith Andrews Show, Kilbane said that "if you said it a year or 18 months ago, when there was still doubt whether Scott Hogan was going to declare for us, you probably would have said if Hogan did declare he'd be immediately ahead of him. But now Maguire, given the form that he's in, it's certainly in the balance.
"I'd probably just edge it slightly towards Maguire on current form and how he's played, and maybe the momentum that's with him at the moment".
Kilbane said that Maguire's recent form has been incredible, and that his club situation has been strengthened recently as his main competition for a starting birth has been sold.
"Jordan Hugill is gone, so obviously there was a big move for him to West Ham, but what I've been led to believe when I was down at Preston was, 'look, this chance now is for you, you can play as a no.9'. "
"That's where he's spoke openly about that's where he wants to play, that's where he sees his position, that's where he think he'll score goals. You only have to look at his two goals against Bolton, real poachers goals, that's what he can do".
Andrews himself favoured Maguire ahead of Hogan and Long if Ireland go with one up top, though noted the pair's similarities and highlighted the importance of this game in Maguire's race to fitness from a recent four month injury absence.
"His timing has been impeccable. That was his driving ambition in terms of when he was injured, to try and get back for this game in March. He's burst back on the scene with couple of goals on Saturday and then another one the other night".
"They're similar, aren't they? In terms of build, the way they play, they're very clever and bright in terms of their movement, they're good finishers and can finish in different ways.
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