Robbie Keane may be given a chance to rediscover the form which has eluded him so far on tour when the Republic of Ireland complete their US Cup programme against South Africa in New Jersey on Sunday.

Keane departed prematurely in the opening game against Mexico last Sunday with a thigh injury and was not sufficiently recovered to warrant a place in the squad for the 1-1 draw with the US at Boston 48 hours later.

His rate of recovery has been encouraging, however, and from a situation in which he was thought to have played his last game in a marathon season, he could now reemerge as a contender for a place in the front line.

"He's coming on well with treatment and I'll certainly be checking on his fitness before making up my mind about the team," said Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

After an eventful introduction to the Premiership with Coventry City, Keane has recently betrayed signs of fatigue. Given the exuberance of his game and the sheer physical effort that went into the transition from first division football at Wolves, that was in some respects inevitable. And yet his capacity to conjure moments of inspiration in the penalty area is still a precious asset.

Niall Quinn's is a different style, demanding strength and a willingness to go in where it hurts. That, too, comes at a price and no less than Keane, Quinn is running low on energy just now.

Yet, the ambition of playing in the Giants Stadium is likely to fire the Sunderland player to one last effort before departing on his seasonal break. Quinn, of course, missed the celebrated 1-0 win over Italy in this arena at the World Cup finals in 1994 because of injury.

And although confined to a substitute's role for the game against Mexico in the US Cup two years later, he was sent to the dressingroom together with McCarthy and Liam Daish following the now infamous touchline incident and thus found himself suspended for the final game in the tournament against Bolivia.

"I think there's something about Niall and the Giants Stadium and he'd like to get it out of his system on Sunday," said McCarthy.

In reverting to the front-line partnership which did duty in the Euro 2000 programme, McCarthy would have to jettison, at least temporarily, the emerging talent of Dominic Foley - and that is a decision he is reluctant to make.

Foley's goals against Mexico and the US have been the highlights of the stay here so far. Unlike the other two, he is relatively fresh after making just 14 appearances for Watford and even if he doesn't make the starting line-up he is certain to win his fourth cap at some stage of the game.

Along with Gary Breen's commanding performances at centre back, McCarthy has been encouraged by the contributions of Matt Holland and Stephen McPhail in midfield. McPhail departed early from the US game but not before he had enhanced his reputation as a gifted international player in the making.

"It hurt having to take him off but with luck he'll be fine for Sunday," said McCarthy. "One of the things I most like about him is the calming effect he brings to the team in helter-skelter situations.

"He always seems to have the time and space to pick out the right pass and in the absence of the big hitters, or so-called big hitters, he's done himself a lot of favours here.

"Matt Holland, too, has impressed me. He's got remarkable energy and the way he played in the last two games certainly kills the theory that players need a rest at this time of season."