Ipswich Town defender Alex Bruce will captain the Republic of Ireland B team for the second time when Giovanni Trapattoni assesses his options with a friendly match against Nottingham Forest at Dalymount Park tomorrow evening (7.30pm).
Bruce, who previously wore the armband against Scotland, starts in central defence alongside Celtic's Darren O'Dea, in front of Scunthorpe United goalkeeper Joe Murphy.
The Wolves duo of Kevin Foley and Stephen Ward will start as the full-backs, while their clubmates Darren Potter and Andy Keogh are named in midfield.
Potter starts in the centre alongside former Wolves captain Keith Andrews, whose emergence since captaining MK Dons to promotion from League Two before a move to Blackburn Rovers, could yet result in a call-up to the senior side for the 28-year-old, in the absence of Steven Reid through injury.
"It's been good because now I know players like (Caleb) Folan, Andrews, (Darron) Gibson and (Anthony) Stokes a little bit better. Andrews has been a surprise, his mentality is good. But I wait until the game to finally say who has done well," said the manager today.
Potter and Gibson, who starts on the bench tomorrow but looks likely to replace the former at halftime, are also vying for inclusion in the squad to face Cyprus in a week's time.
Norwich City's Wes Hoolahan completes the midfield quarter on the left wing, with Shane Long and Hull City striker Folan, who sat out training with a minor groin strain today, getting the nod up front. Sunderland frontman Stokes will replace one of them during the game.
In fact, Trapattoni confirmed today that each of the 19 players named will be in action at one stage or another.
The Italian envisages his side trying to play the same type of game that has seen the senior team get four points from their opening two games in the world cup qualifiers.
"It is only the second day together for the group but already the team is better, they are organised the way they have to be. Alex (Bruce) knows the way we've done things but the others are only getting used to it," he said with Bruce at his side.
"Sure, I don't expect that they will all take to it immediately but some have experienced what we want them to do in Portugal and it's important that we play our game.
"This is a great opportunity for the players who haven't played so much. They must show me that they are really strong."
Republic of Ireland XI v Nottingham Forest
Joe Murphy, Kevin Foley, Alex Bruce, Darren O'Dea, Stephen Ward, Andy Keogh, Keith Andrews, Darren Potter, Wes Hoolahan, Shane Long, Caleb Folan.
Substitutes: Anthony Stokes, Kieran Westwood, Eddie Nolan, Darron Gibson, Martin Rowlands, Owen Garvan, Sean Scannell, Keith Treacy.
