Northern Ireland defender Brodie Spencer said being underdogs against Italy "suits us" for Thursday's World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo.

The winner of the semi-final will be rewarded with another game on the road against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina and the victor of that play-off will clinch a spot in Group B of the tournament.

Michael O'Neill's side are aiming to qualify for their first World Cup in 40 years, while Italy are trying to not miss out on their third consecutive finals.

"Yeah 100%," Spencer replied when asked if the underdog title suited Northern Ireland.

"Coming up through the age groups of Northern Ireland, we've always been seen as the underdogs and I think we thrive with that underdog title.

"It suits us, you know, being the underdogs and a team sort of downplaying us. Then to be able to go out there and put in a good performance against big teams and then you can start to see the teams start to respect us a bit more."

If Italy fail to make this World Cup, they will become the first former winners to not qualify for three tournaments in a row.

The Oxford United defender added that the home side "have more to worry about" in Bergamo.

"I think Italy will have more to worry about than us," Spencer continued.

"We're going into this game as the underdogs, so we'll obviously bring the game to them and it's down to us to perform on the night.

"As a team on the night [we can] put a lot of pressure on them, frustrate them and anything can happen as it's a one-off game."

Spencer has made 19 senior appearances for Northern Ireland but missed the final fixtures of their qualifying campaign through injury.

Now, the 21-year-old is eager to help the side make history and keep the dream of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1986 alive.

"My family, my uncles and my cousins say about back in the day when Northern Ireland were in the World Cup, I think it was 40 odd years ago," he added.

"Just saying like how important it could be if we do and be able to qualify and how much that would mean to, not only the team, but the whole country.

"It would mean so much to everyone and obviously it'll be very good."