Giovanni Trapattoni is ready to bring in his fringe players ahead Ireland's friendly with South Africa on Wednesday.
Ireland boss to experiment
Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is ready to bring in his fringe players ahead of their friendly with South Africa on Wednesday.
Ireland are on course for second place in Group 8, with Trapattoni's native Italy ready to take top-spot.
But with a friendly in Munster to come against World Cup hosts South Africa, Trapattoni is now looking for his fringe players to take advantage.
Manchester United's John O'Shea and Aiden McGeady of Celtic have both been excused because of injury, whilst Robbie Keane, Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Kevin Kilbane and Stephen Hunt have also been released back to their clubs.
"When you go to a World Cup, you are going to have important players missing for big games," stressed the veteran Italian.
"I hope we don't, but sometimes you are missing important players, and it is important for a coach to have others, not necessarily with the same qualities, who can play in that position with experience and personality.
"Players like Eddie Nolan and Liam Lawrence, they can play with personality.
"I am looking for a team that does not have to change because players are missing - one time John O'Shea on the right, one time John O'Shea on the left.
"We need to be able to play without even thinking about it because we all know the system, and that's why we need to look at the players who can play in those positions."
He also admitted to holding big worries about O'Shea, adding: "Today, he could not play because he had a bleed on the calf. He couldn't run today.
"I told him to be careful because when you pull that muscle, it is two months.
"It was not just for me, it was also for the club he must decide."
Meanwhile, another player coming under Trapattoni's consideration is Crystal Palace's Paddy McCarthy - who has been invited to train with the squad.
Palace boss Neil Warnock said: "We had a call from Liam Brady on Sunday night asking if Paddy could train with them. It shows he's not far away from being in their squad again."
