Remember, a good start is half the battle

Mick McCarthy has been very sensible in his decision to rest those Ireland players on a yellow card and it is against that background that the team was selected.

We are going to go into the play-offs, bar a complete surprise in Portugal, so there is no point in us taking any unnecessary risks from a playing personnel point of view.

It gives one or two others a chance to out their name in lights, thereby creating more competition for places if and when the play-offs come around and whatever shape or form they take.

He's also picked a team very capable of beating Cyprus. It's an attacking line-up and with Cyprus missing half their side it could provide the scope for a high-scoring game.

It's a strange situation in that Mick McCarthy and the players will fully expect Portugal to win but at the same time know they must be professional and make sure they win at Lansdowne Road, just in case Estonia cause a sensation.

Ireland must be careful today's game does not become a celebration of the Holland win because the last thing they want is it to become like a training game.

I don't think McCarthy will let that happen. He has gone for a bit of width, which I believe is the best way to unlock teams like Cyprus. There is also the fact that teams like that don't cope very well with Niall Quinn. You can see them weighing him up before the game starts and going, 'bloody hell, how am I going to deal with that?'

Mark Kennedy has been doing well for Wolves and his presence for this match is important for the player. He has been a silly boy at times and you hope one day the penny will drop so he can get the best out of his game consistently. He probably goes into this match with more confidence, because of his form with Wolves, than he normally does.

Kennedy needs a good performance for Ireland to maintain his battle for consideration when McCarthy has everyone available to him again. Mick knows exactly what Kennedy can and can't do but even he (McCarthy) must say at times, 'For goodness sake, when are you going to perform and realise that you are only going to get so many chances?'

The presence of Roy Keane should guarantee that Ireland are disciplined and focused. He's a type of playground bully - in the nicest sort of way - that you need for an occasion like this. He lifts people up by the bootlaces and drives both the team and himself forward. There would be something completely wrong with you if you couldn't respond to the way that Keane plays his football.

David Connolly has had mixed experiences with Ireland. Initially, he came into the team and did very well but his second coming suggests people believed him to be a better player than he has turned out to be. He's another one like Kennedy whose confidence is high.

In fairness, in my experience of international football I found it took 15 games before you actually felt you were capable of reaching the consistency level and actually felt part of the team as opposed to a bit player. There is also the fact that with goalscorers, no matter how well their general game is, they have to score goals.

Connolly must be careful to avoid over-playing, showing a desperation to succeed because he doesn't get too many chances. He has to relax, be patient and wait for the chances to come his way - and they should. He's a good pro, had a few clubs and is now back in England, seemingly settled and scoring goals. That will hopefully manifest itself in his performance.

Attitude is important for Ireland. If you turn up and think you're going to score six or seven, invariably it doesn't happen. Scoring a couple early is the key because the likelihood is a weakened Cyprus will capitulate. But is vital to start the game right.

It's good to see Steve Finnan getting his chance. It gives Ireland two good footballers in the fullback roles. I maintain in modern day football that if your two fullbacks are good on the ball then you should always play well because more often than not it is your fullbacks who have more of the ball than anyone else.

If they are good footballers and competent they should be your better players on the day because they are getting more touches on the ball.

In the centre of defence all you would say is that in the context of today's game, concentration is the byword: eliminate any silly mistakes.

Ireland should win and could win well.