Impetus is with Kerr's old reliables

SOCCER: When Dundee were once beaten 8-1 by Celtic one of the town's papers headlined their match report, with classic impartiality, "Dark Blues involved in nine-goal thriller". Though obviously only two thirds as good, it's presumably the sort of way the FAI's PR boys would like us to remember Moscow.

Last year's defeat at the hands of the Russians was a strange and chaotic affair, one more reminiscent of a battle scene from Love and Death than War and Peace and one in which the Irish could well have equalled the home side's tally of four goals had the chances that came their way been capitalised upon. It's hard to imagine that the two goals Mick McCarthy's side did manage wouldn't be enough to take all three points this afternoon.

A 2-0 win would leave the team now managed by Brian Kerr in what would have seemed, at the end of last year, an unimaginably strong position ahead of their last game of this qualifying campaign, against Switzerland next month.

Three points from the game would leave the Irish within a win, in Basel, of certain qualification for next summer's European finals while a score line more favourable than Russia's 4-2 victory (and those away goals could yet prove a decisive factor) in Moscow would leave Kerr's men sure, at least, of second place in Group 10 and a place, once again, in the play-offs.

Quite what the Irish will be faced with this afternoon is a little difficult to gauge, however. With Georgi Yartsev having only returned to the post of Russian coach a matter of weeks ago there is considerable uncertainty regarding both the team he will field and the approach he will adopt.

In Moscow, the Irish were caused particular problems by Andrei Kariaka and Dmitri Loskov in wide attacking positions but it seems unthinkable, even if the new coach seeks to repeat the trick away from home, that Steve Carr and John O'Shea would not cope much more effectively than Steve Finnan and Ian Harte did that night.

Kenny Cunningham, who will captain the team today on his 50th appearance for his country, expressed the hope yesterday that the Russians will indeed look to press forward again thus presenting the hosts with the opportunity to get behind their midfield.

While Yartsev expresses confidence his side can put their recent poor form behind them to win the game, however, it is hard to see him being disappointed with a draw that would leave Russia in a strong position to finish second and give them a good shot at topping the group.

The Irish, on the other hand, need the win, though it is far from clear how Kerr will approach this afternoon's task. With Damien Duff looking virtually certain to play up front and Kevin Kilbane returning to left side of midfield there appears to be three places up for grabs.

In central midfield, Colin Healy is clearly pressing Mark Kinsella hard for a starting place. The Corkman would bring greater mobility, pace and attacking threat to the team and Kinsella may not have done himself any favours against Albania when he looked tired and ineffective.

Neither man has played much football this season, however, and at Sunderland, it is said, there were still doubts about Healy's match fitness up until last week when he picked up a minor thigh strain after coming on in the second half against Bradford.

Kerr tends to be a loyal manager, however, and though Healy's day is clearly fast approaching he may just have to settle for passing the early part of this game on the bench.

Out wide on the right, Steven Reid, Steve Finnan and Lee Carsley are all competing for one spot with the Everton player's minor injury problems probably leaving him third in line for the starting place.

Reid is another who has yet to play a full 90 minutes this season. With the Irish looking for goals he would represent a more positive approach by Kerr and in the likely absence of Ian Harte his deadball abilities might come in handy.

Finnan, though, has also performed solidly on the occasions he has been fit enough to play for Ireland since Kerr took over the team. Clearly he represents a more cautious selection but the manager may well settle for a solid start before adding teeth to his team's attack as the game wears on.

Up front, Morrison's return to fitness has attracted most attention this week and the fact he has scored in both of his appearance for Kerr cannot be taken lightly. When Kerr was last without Keane for a competitive game, however, he opted for Doherty alongside Duff up front and though the Spurs player turned in a disappointing display in Tbilisi, both men managed to score on a night when the Irish created quite a few good chances.

Doherty played better against Scotland when partnering Morrison and has done enough on other occasions to suggest he has the wherewithal to cause the sort of problems for a defence from which Duff might profit. That might just give him the edge when it comes time for Kerr to name his starting 11.

Whatever the starting line-up, this will be the toughest and most important test of Kerr's short reign and Keane will be missed up front.

Goals are likely to be sufficiently hard to come by that just one is likely to be all that separates the teams at the end. With the momentum they have built up in recent months, however, and assuming we see a much more solid performance than was managed by the defence in Moscow, the Irish should have enough in them to take another big step towards next summer's finals in Portugal.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Given (Newcastle Utd); Carr (Tottenham), Cunningham (Birmingham City), Breen (Sunderland), O'Shea (Manchester Utd); Finnan (Liverpool), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Holland (Charlton Ath), Kilbane (Everton); Doherty (Tottenham), Duff (Chelsea).

RUSSIA: Ovchinnikov (Lokomotiv Moscow); Nizhegorodov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Onopko (Vladikavkaz), Ignashevitch (Lokomotiv Moscow), Kovtun (Spartak Moscow); Yevseyev (Lokomotiov Moscow), Smertin (Portsmouth), Mostovoi (Celt Vigo), Karayka (Kryla Sovietov Samara); Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Sychev (Olympique Marseille).

Rep of Ireland v Russia, Lansdowne Road, 4.0, On TV: Net 2, Sky Sports 2