Republic manager Kerr has named a 23-man squad for the friendly international with Bulgaria at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday, August 18 as Kerr puts the finishing touches to his panel ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
That means there are places in the squad for Graham Barrett, Andy Reid, Liam Miller, Alan Quinn, Graham Kavanagh and Alan Lee who have all impressed the manager in recent months.
It also means that no less than eight of the 23-man panel have never played a competitive match for Ireland before though Kerr is confident that they are ready for the step-up.
"I think anyone that is in the squad is ready and able for the competitive matches," he said. "They've all done well in the summer matches and in the friendlies before that and I've called them in with the intention of them being available for the competitive matches."
Kerr is still hopeful that Robbie Keane will be fit for the start of the World Cup qualifiers in September while he revealed Damien Duff is well on the road to recovery from the shoulder problem that plagued him last season.
"He thinks he still has a chance of making it. There's nearly four weeks to go and Robbie is very positive himself. Damien is doing well and just wants to play a few games to get over any fears he might have."
But the news on Steven Reid was worse. "Steven hasn't played that often for us or for Blackburn since they paid big money for him. Hopefully, he will get over this soon and it wont hold him back."
Squad: Given (Newcastle United), Colgan (Barnsley), Kenny (Sheffield United), Finnan (Liverpool), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O'Brien (Newcastle United), Maybury (Hearts), O'Shea (Manchester United), Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Breen (Sunderland), Miller (Manchester United), Quinn (Sheffield United), Keane (Manchester United), Holland (Charlton Athletic), Kavanagh (Cardiff City), Reid (Nottingham Forest), Barrett (Coventry City), Kilbane (Everton), Duff (Chelsea), Lee (Cardiff City), Morrison (Birmingham City), Connolly (Leicester City).