Craig Bellamy’s men head into their final two group fixtures against Liechtenstein and North Macedonia knowing that victory in both would secure a top-two finish.
But for Bournemouth midfielder Brooks, the difference between second and third could determine whether Wales make it back to the biggest stage of all.
“Obviously, we want to win both games, so we can finish second to give ourselves the best opportunity to have a home tie for one and hopefully an easier game,” says Brooks when he considers Wales’ route to the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.
“No-one wants to finish third because you could end up pulling a big dog that just misses out.”
For Wales, it could mean the difference between meeting relative international puppies like Kosovo or Albania in their play-off, or a bigger, snarling dog like Italy.
After coming through a gruelling few years of injury and illness to regain his place in the Premier League, Brooks’ focus is now firmly on helping Wales return to the biggest tournament.
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He was part of the squad thDavid Brooks Is Climbing Right Back to the Top, Insists Wales’ Teammate Chris Mephamat qualified for Qatar in 2022, though he missed out on selection while recovering from cancer treatment. This time, he says, the prospect of playing in one feels even more personal.
“I've said it before – when we got to the World Cup, I pushed hard to make that squad. I got injured again and it was obviously too soon,” he reflected.
“I was just gutted that it was one ambition that wasn’t ticked off. I think it would be even more special now, at the time of my career that I’m in, and having made it back to the Premier League.
“If I could be part of a squad that plays a big part in getting us there – and then getting to play in it – I think it would be a whole other level of achievement for myself.”
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The next two games will go a long way to deciding that dream.
Wales face bottom-ranked Liechtenstein away on Friday before a potentially decisive clash with North Macedonia in Cardiff. Brooks knows how treacherous these fixtures can be.
“When you look at them as a team, you'd probably say, obviously Wales should be winning.
“But when you go away to places like that, it can be a lot tougher than people give them credit for,” he warned.
“If we do things right and keep to our own standards, we'll be all right. But it's like I say, it's a bit harder done than said.”
The memory of June’s draw in Skopje, where Wales dropped points on a poor pitch, is still fresh.
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Brooks, who scored that night, feels that performance serves as a reminder of how costly small lapses can be.
“Every goal matters at the time. It felt like two points dropped, but that point could be a massive point that we need – especially taking two points off North Macedonia,” he says.
“Now there's going to be something to play for and every game matters.”
Securing home advantage in the play-offs, Brooks insists, could be decisive.
“If the other team hasn’t been in a situation like that, I feel like it would be a little bit of an advantage.
“If you got a home tie on top of that, I feel like those little added extras can be the difference in whether you go to a World Cup or not,” he adds.
The 27-year-old’s resurgence at Bournemouth has been one of the more uplifting stories of the season.
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After several years disrupted by illness and injury, he has become a regular starter in Andoni Iraola’s high-intensity side — a style that mirrors what Page is trying to build with Wales.
“The Premier League is one of the most intense leagues in the world anyway and then Bournemouth, we're close to the top of all the intense running that goes on in the Premier League as well,” Brooks says.
“So I feel like I'm very well prepared to do it for Wales. We want to make it as uncomfortable for any team that comes here or any team that we play against, and intensity's going to be a big part of that.”
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Away from football, Brooks has also welcomed a major change to his life — he and wife Flora becoming parents for the first time just ten days before joining up with the national team.
“It's been all right. I think Flora's taken on a lot of the work. So, I get to enjoy all of it and still have all the sleep, which I'm very thankful for,” he says.
“Flora has been absolutely amazing with all that stuff. I just get all the cuddles during the day and then get to have my kip.”
