Wes Hoolahan is poised for just his third competitive start away from home under both Martin O’Neill and Giovanni Trapattoni when Ireland face Moldova tomorrow.
With Robbie Brady unavailable due to concussion and Jeff Hendrick suspended, O’Neill has to make at least two changes against the Group D minnows.
Glenn Whelan - Ireland’s most capped midfielder - is expected to return to the team having been dropped against Georgia, partnering James McCarthy in the engine room.
Everton midfielder McCarthy will start his second game in four days having not played in the previous six weeks following a groin operation.
As expected, striker Shane Long is fit to play having come off with a knock late in Thursday’s win in Dublin.
Victory tomorrow night would put Ireland on a respectable seven point tally from nine after three games.
In Chisinau tonight, O’Neill said: “We have to try raise ourselves again for this. It's a big game for us and obviously the result is the most important thing.
“We can play better, we know that - we did this in France. It's only a couple of months ago since we played brilliantly against Sweden and brilliantly against Italy.”
The Irish boss added: “We haven't played very well at home in a game (against Georgia) and that can happen. These things are forgotten about.”
Skipper Seamus Coleman - who saved the day against Georgia with his pinball wizard goal - feels Ireland must earn the right to win games easily.
The Everton star said: “Look, ideally we would like to win games comfortably but, at international level, you’ve got to earn the right to play initially.
“We’ve watched little bits on this team already, they press well, they work hard so we’ve got to earn that right to play. Ideally, you want to win comfortably but it’s not always the case.”
