Playoff picture should become clearer after tonight

UNITED: Manager Vera Pauw speaks to her players during a Republic of Ireland Women training session at National Training Centre in Senec, Slovakia. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

By tonight, at least some of the haze around the most complex playoff system for a tournament should clear.

Only Ireland, Scotland and Austria have so far guaranteed their runners-up slots across nine groups, with plenty to play for in the other pools.