BBC Sport NI examines the Republic of Ireland squad and their opponents ahead of a demanding Nations League schedule.
Finishing first or second in the group guarantees promotion to League A, while third-place finish keeps them there.
Bottom of the table triggers a play-off against a League C runner-up, with further relegation risks if lost.
A top-two finish also secures a Pot Two draw for Euro 2028 qualifiers in Belfast in December, potentially offering a kinder fixture list.
Troy Parrott remains a key figure having scored on his Champions League debut against Lille and provided an assist against Getafe.
He joined Real Betis in Spain and opened his account there with a late winner against Real Madrid earlier this month.
Some squad members including Jimmy Dunne, Bosun Lawal and Owen Elding are currently recovering from injuries or regaining fitness.
Harvey Vale and Jamie McGrath were ruled out due to warm-up injuries before their club matches on Saturday.
The national team will play Kosovo, Israel twice and Austria within a twelve-day period starting with the Pristina fixture.
This marks the first competitive game for Heimir Hallgrimsson's side since the March defeat.
Four games in just twelve days represents a new intensity following some experimentation during the summer window.