The National Lottery says the jackpot this Wednesday will be the second highest of 2017, if it is won.

It is heading for a massive €9m.

The last Lotto jackpot was won on Wednesday July 5th, when a syndicate from the north-east won €6.4m with a ticket they purchased in Co Cavan.

In last Saturday's draw, 34 players were just one number away from winning the €8.2m jackpot on offer.

The current jackpot has been rolling for almost seven weeks.

Dermot Griffin, chief executive of the National Lottery, said: "Lotto continues to be Ireland’s favourite game and we are seeing great excitement among our players and an increase in play as the jackpot continues to roll.

"We are expecting a high level of public interest for Wednesday’s draw and we would advise players to buy their tickets early to avoid queues and to be in with a chance of winning this life-changing prize," he added.

Since the Lotto game began in 1988, there have been 1,728 jackpot winners.

The largest Lotto jackpot win was on June 26th 2008, when the Dan Morrissey syndicate in Carlow won €18,963,441.

The National Lottery says approximately €9.4m will have been raised for good causes in the current Lotto jackpot roll-over series.