Representing the Ireland Women's National Team means everything to Jessie Stapleton and that is why October 24th cannot come quick enough.

The 18-times capped defender would never take her place in the WNT squad for granted, but she can't help but get excited about the UEFA Women's Nations League Promotion / Relegation Play-Off against Belgium in the Aviva Stadium.

SECURE YOUR SEAT FOR IRELAND VS BELGIUM

The Friday night game offers the Dubliner the opportunity to play in the Aviva Stadium for just the third time but pulling on the green jersey - regardless of where the game is played - is something that fills her with immense pride.

“When I play for my country, it means so much more. Even if it is a Friendly match, it’s still the biggest honour of my life. Sometimes I might see a random girl in the crowd and think that I need to perform my best for her because I was once that told who dreamed of getting the opportunity to represent Ireland at the Aviva Stadium," said Stapleton.

“A big motivator for me is that I’m from a small place in Ireland where not many people get the same opportunities as me and I have a responsibility to make the most of it. It’s on me to play the best that I can and show what it means to play for my country.

“International football, for me, is the best thing ever. I love my country. I would do it even if I had to pay to play. I’d pay for my own flights, I’d pay for my family to come to the games. I do it because I love pulling on the jersey, singing the national anthem and playing as best as I can."

Even though Stapleton cherishes every single appearance for Ireland, the 20-year-old does admit that getting to play in the Aviva Stadium is extra special. She grew up going to Ireland men's games with her father, long before the WNT got to play in the national stadium.

“When you walk out of the tunnel, when you are singing the national anthem, it hits you that this is real, that you are playing at the Aviva Stadium," she said.

“When we played Wales, I remember looking around and it was almost a full stadium and I was thinking at the time ‘wow, I used to be in the stands watching the players, now I’m one of those players’. You think something like that is a lifetime away and all of a sudden you there on the pitch playing.

“I still look around for my family in the crowd and think that I’m doing it for them. I always make sure that I spot them before kick-off because when I see them it makes me feel like I can run through a brick wall because I do it for them.

“When you represent your country with your family in the crowd it is really special. I’m looking around and thinking that these people are from where I’m from and I’m doing it for them. I would do anything to make them proud of me, because I’m there because of them."

Stapleton - who is playing her club football in England's WSL 2 with Nottingham Forest - is hoping to be part of the WNT squad for the crunch game with Belgium. If selected, expect to see her fired up to perform her best for her country and her family.

UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE PROMOTION / RELEGATION PLAY-OFF
Ireland v Belgium
Friday, October 24th
Aviva Stadium
KO 19:00
Tickets Available Here