Likely Starts for Kavanagh and Elliott

Elliott set to start

Kavanagh has already won 11 international caps and helped Wigan Athletic to gain promotion to the Premiership last season.

The fact that he has been playing regularly probably gives him an edge over Matt Holland, who has been kept out of the Charlton Athletic team recently by injury.

Stephen Carr, Stephen Reid and Damien Duff are all carrying slight knocks but should be fit for selection.

Ireland’s team is expected to be:

Shay Given (Newcastle United);

Stephen Carr (Newcastle Utd), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Kenny Cunningham (Birmingham City), John O’Shea (Manchester Utd);

Steve Finnan (Liverpool), Graham Kavanagh (Wigan Athletic), Kevin Kilbane (Everton), Damien Duff (Chelsea);

Stephen Elliott (Sunderland), Robbie Keane (’Spurs).