Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland must embrace the chance to make history and qualify for a European Championship for the first time, insisting the team and supporters “need” a place in France next summer.

O’Neill’s team can take a significant step towards qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since the 1986 World Cup by defeating the Faroe Islands on Friday. Victory at the Torsvollur Stadium, coupled with Hungary failing to beat the leaders, Romania, in Budapest, would give Northern Ireland the opportunity to secure a place at Euro 2016 with a win over the Hungarians in Belfast on Monday. “We want Romania to win the game,” O’Neill admitted. “We could still finish top but we are in a three-horse race so let’s eliminate the third horse.”

The Northern Ireland manager insists the Faroe Islands pose a stern test having beaten the 2004 champions, Greece, home and away in this campaign. O’Neill expects an open game and a brave approach from Lars Olsen’s side but, despite “hammering home to the players this week that we cannot be out-worked”, believes his players can thrive amid the expectation of a first appearance at a European Championship.

O’Neill said: “I would never describe this as a banana skin. People forget, we are a small nation ourselves. If we were to secure qualification I think it would be the first time in history that a pot five team has qualified. That gives you an indication of where this team has come to.

“The motivation is there because Northern Ireland needs it. Simple as that. Nothing else. We need it as a country, as a group of players and as a group of supporters. We’re not hiding behind that and we want to deliver it. We need this and I think the players recognise they have the capability to deliver it.”

The Northern Ireland manager added: “The prize is huge and you do think about the significance of qualifying and also the significance if it doesn’t go our way, but within this group there is a hard core that realises this is a huge opportunity to have their international careers remembered. A lot of good players for Northern Ireland did not get the chance to go to an international tournament.”

O’Neill has left little to chance, visiting Torshavn in August to assess the pitch, training facilities and the team hotel. “The key is to de-risk the situation and we have done that,” said the manager. His squad have trained this week on an artificial pitch at Bangor FC in preparation for a similar surface at the redeveloped Torsvollur that O’Neill insists will have no bearing on the result. The Faroes’ new national arena is a far cry from the windswept, hillside ground in Toftir that staged Northern Ireland’s last visit five years ago when the visitors were indebted to a late equaliser by Kyle Lafferty for a 1-1 draw.

Lafferty will again lead the line but will be short on match fitness as he tries to maintain an impressive run that has yielded five goals in six qualifying games. The 27-year-old has not played a competitive fixture since the goalless draw with Romania in June having missed the start of the season with Norwich City due to a knee injury.

But O’Neill said: “He’s looked fine. He’s completed every training session that we’ve done. He’s keen to add to the five goals he’s got in the tournament to date. He likes the fact that he’s up there with the top goalscorers in Europe. He’s reminded me of that on several occasions. How long he’ll last or how fit he’ll be remains to be seen but we know we’ll get every last drop out of him.”

West Bromwich Albion’s Chris Brunt has recovered from a hamstring problem but Jamie Ward of Nottingham Forest misses out with a similar injury.

Probable teams: Faroe Islands (4-1-4-1): Nielsen; Tor Naes, Baldvinsson, Nattestad, Sorensen; Benjaminsen; Holst, Hansson, Henriksen, Vatnhamar; Edmundsson.

Northern Ireland (4-2-3-1): Carroll; McLaughlin, McAuley, J Evans, Brunt; Norwood, Baird; McGinn, Davis, Dallas; Lafferty.

Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)