Brian Kerr must contend without four of his original squad when ahead of Tuesday night's friendly with Turkey at Lansdowne Road.
Manchester United defender John O'Shea, Shay Given (neck and knee), captain Kenny Cunningham (groin) and Lee Carsley (knee) have all returned to their clubs for treatment after suffering knocks in yesterday's Euro 2004 Group 10 draw with Russia.
Kerr, who has resisted the temptation to call up any replacements or to promote anyone from the Under-21 squad, is optimistic that none of the injuries to the quartet are too serious.
The manager said: "John O'Shea has some soreness in his tendon behind the knee but our medical staff don't think its too serious.
"It was just as well to send him home to check it out and he'll be having a scan back in Manchester.
"Shay hurt his neck and also aggravated a knee injury but hopefully he isn't too bad. Kenny had an old groin injury which felt a bit sore, but we were going to rest him anyway as he is suspended for our final qualifier in Switzerland next month, and Lee has gone back too.
"I am happy enough with the strength of the squad we have at the moment. We started with 24 and as long as it doesn't go down below 18 or 19 we are okay. If we need one or two for specific positions we'll get them in."
Cardiff City striker Alan Lee took a knock on his knee during training today and will be assessed in the morning. The point against Russia means Ireland must win in Switzerland to guarantee at least a play-off place, although a draw might yet be good enough, and Kerr revealed the "huge respect" he had for his players after seeing their reaction to yesterday's result.
He continued: "The sense of disappointment among the players made me feel sorry for them. I have huge respect for them because of the level of their disappointment when we drew in Albania and again yesterday.
"I don't think those draws were too bad results, I think a lot of people under-estimated Russia although we didn't, we had no right to.
"There are various permutations which could leave us winning the group if we win the last game or even a draw could see us into the play-offs."
The loss of the injured players means there will be at least four changes on Tuesday, although Kerr is likely to make at least two or three other alterations to his line-up. The main concern is to find a replacement for Cunningham to partner Gary Breen at the heart of the defence, with Manchester City's Richard Dunne and Newcastle's Andy O'Brien the two contenders.
West Brom goalkeeper Joe Murphy will win his cap, and there might be a run out for Leeds' Stephen McPhail - the two squad members not to have featured yet under Kerr since he took charge at the start of the year.