A HUGE week for Wales to come and a huge week for Newport County just gone; so plenty for those of us enthralled by the beautiful game to ponder this week.

It seems scarcely credible that Israel v Wales represents a battle between first and second in Euro 2016 qualifying group B, but that’s exactly the case as Wales bid to reach a major final for the first time in over 50-years, and to qualify for one, legitimately (rather than by default) for virtually the first time.

Wales hold a three point advantage over Belgium (who have a game in hand) and a nearly unbelievable six point advantage on Bosnia, the top seeds in the group.

However, it is certainly advantage Israel so far, they have a maximum nine points from three games and defeat on Saturday will leave Chris Coleman’s men staring over their shoulders.

Draw or win, and the dream of qualifying for the European Championships isn’t just a possibility, it will genuinely be a probability as Wales still have to play Israel and decisively Andorra, at home.

If Wales can accrue 17 points, it will almost certainly be enough to grab one of the top two spots in Group B, qualifying Chris Coleman’s men by right.

Finishing third and potentially facing a play-off is less daunting than in previous campaigns with the Euros expanded to 24 teams, but this contest will go a long way to determining Wales’ objectives for the remainder of the campaign.

And Wales should enter it in good heart with the situation that virtually never happens occurring, Messrs Bale, Ramsey and Allen all fit and firing. What a luxury.

Wales’ only concern is in defence and to that end Saturday represents the biggest game in the international career of Newport’s James Collins.

The West Ham defender has failed to replicate the form that has made him a mainstay of the Premier League for a decade in the international arena and it’s justified that he’s fallen down the pecking order for his country. Reliable he has not been, having played less internationals that Chris Gunter despite being six years older.

However, the injury to James Chester presents Collins a brilliant opportunity to eradicate recent memories such as his red card against Belgium that killed the last campaign on day one and to show that he’s as passionate as anyone about getting Wales to France.

There is absolutely zero exaggeration in stating that Saturday’s clash is Wales’ biggest game since their play-off heartache against Russia and with momentum building and fans returning, Welsh football could receive its decisive shot in the arm in Israel.

It won’t be easy, but this Wales group seem to be made of sterner stuff. Do we dare to believe that this time really is THE time?

As for the Exiles, it would be remiss to exclude them from the column today after the rarest of treats for the amber army, seven days comprised almost entirely of good news.

In a week where director Howard Greenhaf revealed to the Argus that the Exiles are hopeful of keeping prodigious talent Regan Poole and Jimmy Dack emphasised he has the backing to re-enter the loan market, County also secured two fantastic results.

I doubt there were many fans who truly believed the Exiles would end their double-header with Luton and Plymouth both undefeated and back in the play-off spots, but that’s exactly where County find themselves.

I’ve positively loved Jimmy Dack’s “write us off because we don’t care,” talk from the weekend, rounding on critics who I don’t actually believe exist, but for entirely the right reasons.

Dack is looking to fashion a siege mentality and that suits County, always has done. There has been a touch of the ‘no one likes us we don’t care’ about the Exiles the whole time I’ve covered the club and it is nothing to be embarrassed about. No other clubs this season will have endured an opposition player saying the city they are coming to play in “doesn’t seem the most interesting.”

And despite plenty of doom and gloom and wringing of hands in the past couple of months, your Newport County could be going to Wembley for the third time in four years.

If someone had told me that was the case as I scribbled notes into a pad at top class venues like Didcot, Chippenham, Cirencester or Paulton Rovers I’d have told them to put down the crack pipe.

I was one of the people who probably privately wrote off Newport’s chances when Justin Edinburgh left for Gillingham. Nothing would make me happier than being proven utterly and completely wrong.

Many of us feared the players were going to repeat last season’s post-Christmas malaise after Edinburgh left, but they’ve proven their calibre and dedication to the cause in the past few weeks and I’m positive the core of this group is worth retaining next term, irrespective of what division Newport find themselves in.

What an exciting time for club and country. If only it was always like this.