Liam Brady insists the Republic of Ireland have all the qualities required to overcome what he believes will be the toughest challenge of their World Cup qualification campaign so far.

The squad flew to Bulgaria this afternoon knowing victory on Saturday would take them back above Italy and virtually guarantee a top-two finish in Group Eight.

With Bulgaria desperate for a win to keep their own qualification hopes alive, Brady is expecting a hostile reception both on and off the field in Sofia.

"With the situation so far and the position we have got ourselves in this is our hardest game," said assistant coach Brady.

"They know they have to beat us to get back into the group. We know what awaits us on Saturday. The players are under no illusions what awaits them. They know what they have to do.

"It will be intimidating and they will do everything they can to win — but we have got the players who can handle it. There is a confidence in the squad we can handle the situation.

"The players have been waiting a long time for a situation like this to come around again. Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Richard Dunne all want to go to the World Cup.

"They want it because it is in their make-up. They have waited a long time to be in this position.

"The last (successful) qualifying campaign was when we went to Japan and Korea (for the 2002 World Cup) and that was seven years ago. We have been needing snookers in the last campaigns at this stage. We are in a good position."

Paul McShane is an injury doubt for Ireland head coach Giovanni Trapattoni after suffering an ankle injury in training yesterday.

The full back did not take part in today's light session at Arsenal's London Colney training ground and Trapattoni was not expected to make a call on his fitness until tomorrow.

Four players, Keane, Dunne, Shay Given and Caleb Folan, are all expected to be available at the weekend after sitting out training yesterday.