Soccer:Goalkeeper Shay Given is not prepared to leave anything to chance against Armenia at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night as the Republic of Ireland attempt to book their trip to the Euro 2012 finals.

Russia’s 1-0 victory in Slovakia last night means they will top Group B if they beat pointless Andorra in Moscow on Tuesday night in the final round of fixtures.

Ireland had hoped Slovakia could throw the group wide open once again by completing a double over the Russians, meaning a maximum haul from their final two games, in Andorra last night and at home to Armenia, would hand them automatic qualification instead.

Unless Andorra can pull off a surprise of epic proportions - and there was little evidence that they could as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat by Ireland at the Estadi Comunal last night - Given and his team-mates will have to make do with second place and a play-off spot.

A point against the Armenians will ensure that, but three successive victories and 11 goals in the process suggest that is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Given said: “They have scored eight goals in the last two games, so they are really on a high at the minute, so it will be a big test for us all on Tuesday night.

“A draw is enough for us, but we don’t want to be holding out for a draw because anything can happen in the last minute. Hopefully we can go and win the game and it puts them out of the way.”

Given perhaps had more time than most to contemplate what might be happening in Zilina as Ireland eased to victory through Kevin Doyle’s seventh-minute strike and an Ildefons Lima own goal 13 minutes later.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper said: “We thought maybe Slovakia could have done us a turn, but it wasn’t to be. Andorra might beat Russia on Tuesday night, you never know!

“They look like they are topping the group, but they were favourites from the start. They are a huge country.

“We have got a huge chance on Tuesday night, but we know Armenia are coming strongly behind us as well, so it’s going to be a tough game.

“We know it’s going to be tough, but as I said, I don’t think we can hold out for a draw.

“We have got some very good attacking players of our own and we have got to cause them some problems at the other end, and hopefully we can grab a couple of goals.”

Armenia will head for Dublin intent on revenge after going down 1-0 to Keith Fahey’s goal in the reverse fixture in Yerevan.

Such has been their form since that the Republic’s away victory is looking a better result by the day.

Midfielder Damien Duff said: “They have come late. They are scoring an awful lot of goals, so they are very dangerous. It just shows how big our result was there earlier on in the campaign. It’s a massive game and we are looking forward to it.”