Giovanni Trapattoni looks set to make a host of changes to the side that drew with Italy on Saturday, with Liam Miller and Martin Rowlands already pencilled in to start in central midfield against Montenegro at Croke Park tomorrow.

Glenn Whelan is suspended after picking up a second booking against the world champions at the weekend and Keith Andrews will not be risked because he is already carrying one yellow card.

Similarly, Aiden McGeady will sit out the game, with Damien Duff to start after his return from injury and Stephen Hunt expected to be in the first XI.

Coventry City striker Leon Best and defender Paul McShane are also one booking away from a suspension, so, with Trapattoni expected to rest central defender Seán St Ledger, Richard Dunne looks set to be partnered by John O’Shea and Stephen Kelly may get the nod for the right back berth.

Up front, Noel Hunt is likely to start, while Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane may have to settle for a half each.

The exception to the rule is goalkeeper Shay Given who, Trapattoni has confirmed, will captain the side on the occasion of his 100th cap, despite also being on a yellow card.

Kevin Kilbane will also reach that formidable milestone when he starts at left-back.

The decision to play Given is a gamble, though. The goalkeeper is unlikely to pick up a booking but one mistimed challenge in what remains a competitive fixture, despite it being of little significance to the homeside, could see the goalkeeper ruled out of the first of next month’s play-offs.

The Donegal man did not seemed too worried about that this afternoon. "Making 100 caps, myself and Kevin Kilbane on the same night, we will both be very proud wearing the Irish jersey once more. To wear it 100 times is very, very special."

Given also paid tribute to Trapattoni for guiding Ireland to the play-offs.

"We came into this in third place in the seedings and it was going to be a tough ask to get into the play-off position,” said the Donegal man. "We would love to have topped the group, don't get me wrong, but we haven't done that.

"We have got into second place and I would honestly say most players and fans alike would have probably taken that with the world champions being in the group as well.

"That comes from the manager. We finished the last campaign in fourth place, so to finish in second, we are improving and he has got to take the credit.

"He has given us the belief and the confidence to go out to play Italy and teams like that and get the results."

Given is a veteran of two play-offs, one of which was lost to Belgium, while the other ended in victory over Iran for a place in 2002 finals. He admits that whatever next Monday's draw hands he and his team-mates, the trip to Tehran has prepared him for anything which could be thrown at them.

"It will be a stroll in the park after that, to be honest. That was pretty hostile out in Iran.

"But there are a lot of experienced players in the team who have been there before as well, and that will help the younger players to come through the two legs, hopefully.

"I don't think anyone will relish playing us. We have got a settled team and we are unbeaten in the group so far.

"We have shown we can go to Italy and go to Bulgaria and get results. Whoever is drawn against Ireland, we will cause them some problems.”

Asked for his response to Eamonn Dunphy’s claim that Saturday’s performance was “shameful”, Given replied: "They hit us on a break-away when we were 2-1 up. We should have been more organised and seen the game out.

"But no, 'shameful' is not the word I would use. Those guys are the world champions, some of the best players in the world play for those guys.

"You play against players like [Andrea] Pirlo and you hear he is a good player, but when you actually see him play, you know he is one of the best players in the world, so that definitely wouldn't be the word I would use, no."

A win or a draw tomorrow will see Ireland finish the Group Eight campaign unbeaten in 10 games and no more than six points adrift of table-toppers Italy, who play Cyprus tomorrow. Victory would secure a total of 20 points from a possible 30 and would leave them four points, at most, adrift of the Azzurri.

Rep of Ireland (probable):Given; Kelly, O'Shea, Dunne, Kilbane, Duff, Miller, Rowlands, S Hunt, Doyle, N Hunt.