Russia goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin has branded the Republic of Ireland a "dirty team".
"They try to hit you in the back, hit you from behind, use their elbows, all that stuff, so we have to be careful," he told Russian reporters at the team's training camp.
Ireland will play Russia in the opening Group 10 European Championship qualifying game in Moscow on Saturday.
Alexei Smertin, who will captain Russia in the absence of the injured Yegor Titov, is also wary of Mick McCarthy's side.
"I know that players on many teams in the West are specifically instructed to use their elbows and aim for the head when they go for high balls," said the Bordeaux midfielder. "In France, for instance, it's a common practice".
The Russians, already without injured midfielder Marat Izmailov, striker Ruslan Pimenov and Titov, lost two other key players to injuries today.
Defender Vyacheslav Dayev is ruled out with an ankle injury, while his CSKA Moscow team mate, striker Denis Popov, pulled a thigh muscle.