WC2006: Republic seeded second for Qualifiers draw

Brian Kerr's side will be in the same pot as Holland, Croatia, Denmark, and Russia, who beat them for a place in the Euro 2004 play-offs, so they will be avoiding some of Europe's hardest hitters in the draw.

They could however be placed, incredibly, in a group with top seeds England, Pot C's Scotland, Pot D's Wales and Northern Ireland from Pot E if fate chooses so.

The draw takes place on Friday in Frankfurt, Germany, with the ceremony beginning at 4pm (GMT). What odds on another journey to the Baltics or God forbid the Macedonians??

WORLD CUP 2006 QUALIFYING DRAW SEEDINGS

Pot A: France, Portugal, Sweden, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, England, Turkey

Pot B: Holland, Croatia, Belgium, Denmark, Russia, Ireland, Slovenia, Poland

Pot C: Bulgaria, Romania, Scotland, Serbia & Montenegro, Switzerland, Greece, Slovakia, Austria

Pot D: Ukraine, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Israel, Bosnia, Latvia, Wales

Pot E: Hungary, Georgia, Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Northern Ireland, Lithuania, Macedonia

Pot F: Albania, Armenia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands, Malta, San Marino, Liechtenstein

Pot G: Andorra, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan