Ireland Players ... Probable line-ups

GoalkeeperShay Given Age: 30. Club: Newcastle United. Caps: 78. Goals: 0.

One of the Premiership's best goalkeepers and by far the Irish team's most consistent performer in recent years. Given is a good organiser of his defence, a fine shot stopper and excellent in one on one situations.

Defenders

Steve Finnan (right back) Age: 30. Club: Liverpool. Caps: 44. Goals: 1.

Highly capable right back who works hard, reads the game well and is a solid tackler. Finnan can also pose a threat going forward and is a decent crosser of the ball as he has shown on a number of big occasions.

Richard Dunne (centre half) Age: 27. Club: Manchester City. Caps: 33. Goals: 5.

Big, strong and quick, Dunne is Ireland's key figure in central defence. The Dubliner is good in the air and sometimes remarkable when it comes to digging out a last-gasp recovery challenge but is prone to the odd lapse in concentration.

John O'Shea (centre half) Age: 25. Club: Manchester Utd. Caps: 36. Goals: 1.

The Waterfordman may not quite have become the all-conquering hero that was hoped a few years back but he remains a remarkably versatile figure even if his passing sometimes lets him down.

Ian Harte (left back) Age: 29. Club: Levante (Spain). Caps: 64. Goals: 11.

An erratic figure whose willingness to get forward down the left makes him an attacking asset as does his ability in dead ball situations around the area. Can often look suspect when under pressure, though.

Midfielders

Damien Duff (right midfield) Age: 28. Club: Newcastle Utd. Caps: 64. Goals: 7.

Hugely talented winger with the ability to go past defenders and either score himself or set up goals for others. Guilty of under delivering in recent times, however, and could do with reminding us of just how gifted he is.

Stephen Ireland (centre midfield) Age: 20. Club: Manchester City. Caps: 3. Goals: 2.

An impressively calm and composed central midfielder with the ability to both win the ball and, more importantly today, to drive those around him forward by using it well. Also has a handy knack for hitting the target himself.

Lee Carsley (centre midfield) Age: 33. Club: Everton. Caps: 31. Goals: 0.

Experienced ball winner whose return to the team since the mess in Cyprus has afforded much needed defensive protection to the back four. Likes to get within firing range when he can threaten but chief task will be to win possession and disrupt the opposition.

Kevin Kilbane (left midfield) Age: 30. Club: Wigan Athletic. Caps: 76. Goals: 7.

The team's great survivor, Kilbane's honesty and work ethic seems likely to earn him a start in what will be his 42nd consecutive competitive international despite the claims of Aiden McGeady and, particularly, Stephen Hunt. Will help to provide cover for Harte and seek to pose a threat from the left.

Strikers

Kevin Doyle (centre forward) Age: 23. Club: Reading. Caps: 5. Goals: 1.

The team's fast-rising star, Doyle has shown over recent seasons that he has everything required to be a top-class striker. His first half season in the Premiership was a triumph but he comes into the game less than fully fit.

Robbie Keane (centre forward)  Age: 26. Club: Tottenham Hotspur. Caps: 71. Goals: 29.

Another who people would dearly like to see turn it on for a big occasion like this. The Irish captain sometimes seems to take on too much in the Irish side and ends up delivering very little. He remains, though, the team's main source of goals.