This is our day to seize. Although the pressure on Ireland is immense at this stage, I am very hopeful we can get the necessary two goals and advance to the last 16. It would be no more than this wonderfully brave squad deserves, says Mark Lawrenson, Soccer analyst

Watching the Irish on the pitch, and talking afterwards, there is a definite sense of an inner peace about them. It is as if all the pre-tournament upheaval helped them achieve a higher state of concentration, and they are obviously very unified and confident and sharp.

The task ahead is clear. Saudi Arabia is a functional team, nowhere near as poor as that freak trashing against Germany would suggest. Our record of scoring goals in the World Cup is not great, and much has been made of the fact that we have yet to score two. I think that is irrelevant here.

That meagre return is a legacy of the conservative Charlton era. Mick McCarthy's teams do create chances and we have a pair of finishers now who are on a hot streak at the perfect time. Also, that record is going to fall sooner or later. It may as well be today. We will never get a better chance.

Of course, the knowledge that you must score elevates the pressure. But I think we have the mental resolve to cope with that. Robbie Keane's equaliser against Germany was a perfect example that a goal in the last 20 minutes is as good as one in the first.

If we score early today, great. If not, then it is vital that we just maintain our tempo, be patient in the build-up and try to direct accurate ball at the centre from out wide. That is the key to beating the Saudis.

Mick McCarthy is rightly loyal to players in possession of the jersey, something that has helped build the tremendous sense of assurance within the squad. Steve Finnan needs to start, and I think that Stephen Reid should, for this occasion, displace Gary Kelly on the right side of midfield. Kelly is very versatile and did well against Germany in running them down and stopping them playing, but this occasion requires a more specialist role. Reid offers an extra dimension and has already demonstrated the poise needed to play at this level.

The obvious tactic for Saudi Arabia to employ is to sit back and hit us on the break. There is the slight danger of us leaving ourselves exposed, but, again, we cope well with such threats. Rarely are Ireland caught out by a breakaway goal. Our central defenders dovetail exceptionally well and all of the squad provide more than capable shadow defence. We are good at disrupting teams, breaking their flow.

Of course, the Cameroon-Germany game may turn out so that we don't need the two goals, but we can't depend on that. The best approach is to go for it from the start.

Even if we still have it all to do with 30 minutes left, there are plenty of options. Niall Quinn can come in to alter the pattern and give the Saudi defence a fresh headache. They know they are going home at this point and are playing only for pride, and, as well as they performed against Cameroon, their reserve of self-belief has to be quite low.

Ireland, in contrast, are peaking at the right time. They have been both careful and adventurous at the right times since half-time against Cameroon and look an increasingly tough proposition. Right through the qualifying campaign, our tempo has been at the right pitch and there is no reason to foresee the players rushing things or trying to make it happen too quickly today.

It won't be a pushover, and it is probably going to be another nerve-ridden afternoon for the supporters. But this team has lived on the edge more comfortably than most and I definitely think we can do it.

Of course, today is fraught for the world champions also. France are in a similar scenario to ourselves but against much stiffer opposition. But I think we will see a French backlash against the Danes early this morning. They are too good to go out on such a whimpering note. The upsets of almost all the major nations has been the early story of the World Cup, but I nonetheless expect to see them recover and go on to the second round.

And in their company is where Ireland belongs now. They have done ferociously well to put themselves in this position. They can take the next step.

In an interview with Keith Duggan