The Republic of Ireland¿s new captain Kenny Cunningham leads his men into their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign tomorrow with the message: 'Don't expect me to be another Roy Keane'.
The Birmingham City defender has been given the armband by Mick McCarthy after the manager's famous fall-out with Keane and Steve Staunton's retirement from international football following the World Cup.
Cunningham gave an insight into how Manchester United midfielder Keane led the team by example, whereas he intends to take his quieter, more laid back style into the role.
"I think Roy was very much a leader by example, the way he played and approached the game and his performances on the pitch inspired everybody," said Cunningham, who will win his 42nd cap here. "He was and still is a world-class player.
"Roy demands high standards from the players around him and I think the players responded to that, we realised we had in our midst a truly world-class player so immediately he had all the respect of the players around him.
"Roy wasn't too vocal in the dressing-room prior to the game, like the majority of players he was a little bit introverted, a little bit quiet but, of course, once he stepped on to the pitch you saw the true nature of the man. He was outstanding for us and led by example.
"As regards myself, my approach won't change. Maybe I'll be a bit more vocal around the dressing-room but that will be about it.
"I don't think my performances are going to match the level of Roy Keane's over the past couple of years in an Irish jersey. There were times when Roy was an absolute colossus for us in the middle of the pitch and we can all remember those times when he literally took games by the scruff of the neck and dragged us through them.
"We were by no means a one-man team, everybody played their part, particularly in the World Cup qualifying campaign, but without doubt Roy was an integral part of that.
"If you're looking for me to match that you're probably going to be disappointed over the next couple of months. It is important for me to remain realistic and not to be darting into midfield playing one-twos and asking Robbie Keane to slide me into the penalty box and finish into the top corner - that's just not going to happen.
"It's important that I'm realistic to myself, that armband does not give me supernatural powers and I've just got to play my game as I know I can - I know my limitations and just get on with my game as I always have done."
Russia are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing World Cup, but have been hit by the loss of their star player, teenage striker Dmitri Sychev.
Sychev, 18, who is billed as Russia's answer to Michael Owen, is in a contract dispute with his club Spartak Moscow and has not played since walking out on them last month. That is the main headache for new coach Valeri Gazzaev, who replaced Oleg Romantsev after the team won only one of their matches in Japan and failed to progress beyond the Group stage.
This will be Gazzaev's first competitive match in charge, following last month's friendly when they drew 1-1 at home to Sweden.
Cunningham remains optimistic that Ireland can open their qualifying campaign with a win.
"I'm confident when I look around and see the quality of players we have inside the dressing-room," he added.
"That's what builds our confidence when we go on to the pitch; we realise how good we are and we realise what we've done already; we've proved ourselves at the highest stage now at the World Cup, and there's a real belief that we can go on and qualify for these European Championships."
-PA