Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle say they are ready to make the step up from League of Ireland football to the international stage.
The Dundalk pair who have been part of the sqaud who won three league titles in a row and been on an amazing European odesey in the Europa League, linked up with the national squad in Abbottston on Tuesday morning.
Their call-up comes ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Austria in Vienna.
Havng played in Dundalk's FAI Cup final loss to Cork City at the Aviva Stadium last weekend, both took part in a recovery session at the National Sports Campus and will take full part in training on Wednesday.
With speculation about their club futures with Dundalk rife and talk of fatuige having played through a grueling schedule this season, they were keen to talk it all down when facing the media on Tuesday.
Daryl Horgan: It's special. It's a massive honour. This is every young lads dream. To be in the squad is unbelievable. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/CaYLTvgwkj
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) November 8, 2016
"It is every young lads dream to play for his country and to have the opportunity to be in the squad is unbelieveable." Horgan said.
"Playing in the Europa League has helped (make the step up) the style of football there would be more akin to international football than the league of Ireland itself.
"When you have played the likes of Zenit, with close to 17 internationals, you do adapt a bit quicker, so hopefully that will help and we can see what we can do."
Boyle said;
"Playing every three days, you get into the rhythm of playing so you try and recover and rest up and then playing again and as footballers, that's what you want to do, you want to be playing as many games as possible.
Andy Boyle: I got a call from Stephen Kenny to say I was in the final 28. It was a nice phone call to get. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/qtPJf0tiW8
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) November 8, 2016
"We enjoy the schedule, it was tough and obviously the cup final on Sunday wasn't ideal but this is a nice welcome distraction for the both of us.
