Mick McCarthy will be hoping to learn something from tomorrow night's friendly against the USA at Lansdowne Road, before he names his 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea.
He has made seven changes to the team which beat Denmark 3-0 last month, and it gives a last chance for three players to stake their claim, Newcastle defender Andy O'Brien, and midfielders Rory Delap of Southampton and Celtic's Colin Healy.
By naming Leeds' Robbie Keane and Blackburn's Damien Duff as his twin strikers, McCarthy has revealed what looks like his preferred strike force, and it is a pairing which excites him.
"I watch those two in training on a daily basis and they are a terrific partnership," said McCarthy.
"They have a great understanding, and I think their pace and mobility will frighten defenders, because they are difficult to deal with."
McCarthy's squad of 24 this week has been hit by two casualties. Manchester City's Richard Dunne has returned home with a hamstring injury and Sunderland's Jason McAteer has been forced out with a groin strain.
McCarthy, meanwhile, voiced his opposition to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's idea to stage fewer friendly internationals. Eriksson revealed yesterday how the English FA had decided not to utilise all of their friendly international dates next season, and they would instead hold get-togethers for the squad.
But McCarthy believes friendly internationals help the development of younger players, and that little is gained by either himself or his players from get-togethers.
McCarthy cited the fact players such as Kenny Cunningham, Robbie Keane and Damien Duff had made their Republic debuts, was reason enough to carry on playing these fixtures.
"Some of the friendlies we have played have enabled me to look at people like Alan Maybury, Damien Duff, Robbie Keane, Kenny Cunningham, Mark Kinsella and Lee Carsley," he said.
"Sometimes we got our backside spanked and it didn't do too many favours for our record, but at the end of it players were getting international caps and experience.
"I can say that from every game I saw something which I could take a positive out of, and without those games my squad now wouldn't be as experienced or as good.
"Get-togethers would not benefit the younger players at all. I don't think getting together and playing against each other, or against a league side, is the same as playing international football.
"I know when I was a player I preferred to play friendlies. If it was a case of just joining up with the squad to train, then I would rather have trained at home and stayed with my family.
"If you have a settled squad and are not trying to build something then I can understand why you might need to play only two or three friendlies. But it is not something I want to do."
Republic of Ireland team:
Shay Given, Gary Kelly, Gary Breen, Andy O'Brien Ian Harte, Rory Delap, Mark Kinsella, Colin Healy, Kevin Kilbane, Damien Duff, Robbie Keane.