Wes Hoolahan admits the banter has been flying around the Norwich dressing room ahead of the Republic of Ireland's clash with Sweden.

Alongside Anthony Pilkington – who could make his senior international debut in a crucial game for Ireland's World Cup hopes – Hoolahan is set to come up against City's two Swedish summer signings in Dublin on Friday night.

Martin Olsson and Johan Elmander are also expected to play in the match and Hoolahan has revealed that there has been plenty of talk at the club's training ground in the weeks leading up to the match.

'We have been having a bit of banter about the game. The Swedish lads were saying that they really need to get a result in Dublin and they are looking forward to it,' Hoolahan told The Herald this week.

'I knew Martin Olsson from being with him over the summer, Johan Elmander only came in relatively recently, just a while ago, we're still getting to know Johan as a player but I can already see that he's a very good striker.

'Martin Olsson is an excellent left back, he defends well but he also gets up the pitch and attacks. I was trying to kick him in training last week but I couldn't get near him.'

The former Shelbourne star hoping to retain the role he was handed for Ireland's last outing, last month's 0-0 draw in Wales where he played just behind the lone frontman.