Northern Ireland return to UEFA Nations League B after topping their group last season, which featured Luxembourg, Belarus and Bulgaria.
The campaign provides a backdoor route into World Cup play-offs following a 2-0 defeat by Italy in Bergamo earlier this year.
Since scoring his first international goal against Scotland in March 2024, Conor Bradley has been central to Northern Ireland's attacking output.
In 16 internationals with him on the pitch, the team averaged 1.5 goals per game compared to 0.7 when he was absent.
Finding a different creative spark in his absence will be crucial for the campaign ahead.
Liverpool's full-back is expected to miss the entire window due to ongoing injury concerns.
Since early 2025, the 23-year-old has missed seven Northern Ireland matches through either injury or suspension.
For the first time since June 2022, Michael O'Neill's side will face four games within a single international window.
The schedule begins with an away fixture against Georgia on 25 September and concludes with a home match against Ukraine in Slovakia on 5 October.
In between these dates, Northern Ireland will host Hungary at Windsor Park.
The manager has named a 28-man panel for the campaign, an increase from the 23 players selected for June's double-header against Guinea and France.
A player picking up a calf strain the Saturday before the first match would miss all four fixtures.
There is naturally disappointment regarding the loss to Italy in Bergamo, though long-term qualification hopes remain focused on future tournaments.
Of the starting eleven that featured in Bergamo, only Hull City defender Paddy McNair is older than 26 years.
While Isaac Price has emerged as a more regular goal scorer recently, Bradley retains a talismanic quality for the side.
The squad must navigate this demanding fixture list without its own captain or Georgian international Giorgi Kvaratskhelia.