SAINTS midfielder Steven Davis says Northern Ireland's crunch Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Greece tonight will be the biggest game of his career.

Michael O'Neill's side will ensure a first major tournament appearance since the 1986 World Cup if they can beat Group F's bottom-placed team at Windsor Park (7.45pm).

A draw would also leave the Irish requiring just one point from Sunday's trip to Finland to guarantee a spot at next summer's finals.

Tonight will be the second chance the team have had to wrap up qualification, after drawing 1-1 at home to Hungary in their last match when a win would have sealed their ticket.

Asked if the Greece game was the biggest match of his career, Davis said: "Without a doubt, there's huge significance on the result.

"It's hard to sum up in words really what it would mean. We're so close yet so far at this point in time.

"We'd have loved to do it against Hungary but football isn't always that easy, we know that in Northern Ireland.

"We're just embracing it. I don't think there's any nerves, it's excitement in the build-up to the game.

"We can't wait to get back out there and that's been the case since the final whistle against Hungary.

"We're just looking forward to the game and can't wait to get started.''

O'Neill, who will be without injured defender Jonny Evans, has told his players to ''write their legacy'' by sealing their place at a first ever European Championship.

''As an international player you write your legacy in terms of the number of times you play, the number of memorable performances you have and if you get the chance to go to a major tournament,'' he said.

''These players can write their legacy by going to a major tournament.

''The prize is great and it's something the players are determined to be part of. These opportunities don't come around for Northern Ireland players very often.

''I don't think motivation has ever been an issue for this team, if I'm honest. Even when results weren't going as well as we'd hoped I never had an issue in terms of the effort that the players have given me.

''The belief in the squad is fantastic.''

Northern Ireland finished fifth in qualification for the 2014 World Cup, O'Neill's first campaign at the helm, and slipped down from the fourth to the fifth seeding pot as a result.

But their recent performances have stood in stark contrast to that lowly ranking and O'Neill has been eager to remind his players of their efforts.

 

''All week the preparation has been around our strengths, what has made us successful in this campaign, re-emphasising that,'' he said.

''We are the top goalscorers in the group and we're unbeaten at home as well.

''It's a case of belief. A case of trust among each other. That belief has grown game by game.''