Keith Andrews is the only member of last Saturday’s Euro 2012 qualifier win over Macedonia certain to start for Ireland in Tuesday night’s friendly against Italy in Belgium.
Andrews played his first competitive international since the turbulent night in Paris in November 2009 in the 2-0 win in Skopje at the weekend.
He is named in Giovanni Trapattoni’s starting XI for the game in Liège, while two others who started on Saturday – centre half Darren O’Dea and winger Stephen Hunt – could take their place if they come through pre-match fitness tests.
David Forde, the former Derry City goalkeeper who has been in good form for Millwall, will make his first international start behind a back four of Paul McShane, who will captain the side for the night, Sean St Ledger, O’Dea or Stephen Kelly and Stephen Ward.
Seamus Coleman gets another chance to impress on the right side of midfield with Andrews paired with Kevin Foley in the centre and Liam Lawrence standing by to replace Hunt if the Wolves man fails to satisfy the team’s medical staff prior to kick-off.
Shane Long and Andy Keogh are paired in attack with Robbie Keane handed a rest after his heroics in Skopje three days ago.
Meanwhile, Italy have also named their side, which shows six changes from the team which overcame Estonia 3-0 in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday night.
Defender Giorgio Chiellini, midfielders Andrew Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio and Riccardo Montolivo and striker Giuseppe Rossi all retain their places.
Rossi scored one of the goals in Modena while Giampaolo Pazzini, who was sent off after three minutes when Italy played Ireland in a World Cup qualifier in Bari two years ago, is promoted to the starting XI after a goalscoring substitute appearance the other day.
Kick-off in Liège is at 7.45pm.
Ireland: Forde (Millwall); McShane (Hull City) – capt, St Ledger (Preston NE), O’Dea (Celtic) or Kelly (Fulham), Ward (Wolves); Coleman (Everton), Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Foley (Wolves), Hunt (Wolves) or Lawrence (Portsmouth); Keogh (Wolves), Long (Reading).
Italy: Viviano (Bologna); Cassani (Palermo), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Genoa); Nocerino (Palermo), Pirlo (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus); Montolivo (Fiorentina); Rossi (Villarreal), Pazzini (Inter)
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