Kyle Lafferty is expected to start for Northern Ireland against Slovenia as he continues to build up his match fitness.

Lafferty played 81 minutes against Wales on Thursday, despite featuring for just 45 minutes all season for club side Norwich.

His situation at Norwich had become a cause for concern to Northern Ireland, but, after completing a loan switch to Birmingham earlier in the week, Michael O'Neill hopes he will now be up to speed by the time they reach France.

"It's up to him now to have an impact as well," O'Neill said.

"Birmingham have ambitions and something to play for. That being the case, if he is a contributing factor to them having a good finish to the season then he'll be in a better frame of mind when he comes away with us in the summer."

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O'Neill is set to continue to experiment again with different formations against a Slovenia side that finished third in European Championship qualifying Group E, behind England and Switzerland.

The Northern Ireland boss is set to give most of his squad game time at Windsor Park as they seek to extend a run of nine matches unbeaten.

"In the summer we are going to have to be flexible," the manager added. "Either system has strengths or weaknesses depending on how the game's going.

"The most important thing between now and the end of the summer is the players are able to adapt and understand it very quickly. The game on Thursday night gave me a lot more confidence that that's the case."

Team news

Northern Ireland have Josh Magennis fit again for Easter Monday's friendly but Conor Washington is carrying a knock and Liam Boyce misses out with a hand injury.

O'Neill will make decisions on the fitness of the front pair prior to the game at Windsor Park.

The hosts are still without injured trio Chris Brunt, who will miss the Euro 2016 finals, Chris Baird and Corry Evans.

Opta stats

Northern Ireland have won two of their previous four meetings with Slovenia.

Both those victories came via a 1-0 margin, with Warren Feeney netting the winner in April 2009 and Corry Evans scoring in September 2010.

Norn Iron have kept three consecutive clean sheets against their visitors since a 2-0 loss in October 2008.

Slovenia have scored just two goals in six previous visits to the home nations, both against England.

Michael O'Neill's side are unbeaten in their last six home internationals (W4 D2), shipping just three goals in that run.

Slovenia have lost four of their last five away internationals, with the other one being a win against San Marino