Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said on Wednesday that the absence of Gareth Bale from the Wales team will be a mixed blessing when the two nations meet in an international friendly in the Welsh capital Cardiff on Thursday.

SOUNDBITE (English): Michael O'Neill, Northern Ireland manager (on whether he is expecting a 'feisty' game):
"To an extent I think there will be an element of that. The pitch is a bit lively so that will always contribute to it, but I think at this stage of the season both sets of players have their eyes set on the summer (European Championships). Whereas we want the game to be competitive, of course we do, I think an element of common sense will prevail between both sides as well. I know they (Wales) are missing a few players and we're missing a few players as well, so players coming into the team, getting an opportunity, will obviously want to impress. I think it's an opportunity, I'm not overly concerned about that aspect of the game, to be honest."

SOUNDBITE (English): Michael O'Neill, Northern Ireland manager (on his previous comments that he wanted Wales's Gareth Bale to play):
"I didn't mean that at all, no. I was in the bar I think wasn't I? From our point of view, in preparation for the tournament, we know that when we go to France (for Euros) we are going to play against some very good teams, and we are going to play against some teams with exceptional individual players, which obviously Gareth Bale is. Aaron Ramsey comes into that category as well, and that's not being disrespectful to the rest of the Wales squad who have very good international players. So I think from that point of view, it would have been good for our preparation to have to deal with that. But equally, the fact that they (Bale and Ramsey) are not playing sets us a different challenge."