Giovanni Trapattoni was swift to acknowledge his Republic of Ireland side are overwhelming underdogs ahead of the meeting with the world champions in Bari tomorrow night, but the odds on the hosts have shortened further since, with the news that Aiden McGeady has been ruled out of the world cup qualifer at the San Nicola stadium.

The 22-year-old Celtic midfielder has failed to recover from a knee injury sustained during the 1-1 draw with Bulgaria at the weekend, meaning Trapattoni is without his first-choice wingers after a hamstring injury forced Damien Duff out of the squad prior to Saturday's game.

Wolves striker Andy Keogh will replace McGeady and he and his team-mates are likely to need a monumental performance if they are to leave Bari with any points whatsoever.

Trapattoni delivered a defiant message prior to the news about McGeady but his David and Goliath metaphor seems a touch more fanciful at this stage, though the 70-year-old has been around long enough to know the bookies are not always proved right.

“Sometimes, I think about legends, I think about the famous legend of David and Goliath. We should be David and Italy should be Goliath," he said today, after receiving a warm round of applause on entering the press conference. "Legends remain legends but I have a lot of trust in my team, a lot of belief.

“We have to believe in everything we have done so far. We still have five matches to go before the end of the qualification and one of the most important matches is going to be tomorrow against Italy.”

Italy have played seven senior internationals in Bari over the years and have won each of them, although Trapattoni did not want to be reminded of the statistic. “I am a believer, so don’t jinx me."

Lippi’s side extended their lead at the top of Group Eight from goal difference to two points on Saturday evening, thanks to their 2-0 win in Montenegro but a shock win for Ireland would throw the race for automatic qualification wide open again.

Asked if a win over his home country would be the biggest of his career, Trapattoni said: “Thank God, I have had many other victories.

“It’s a very important game for our qualification. I am the Ireland coach and I want to win - I would be a hypocrite if I said I wouldn’t be happy with a win.

“But it’s all about our qualification.”

Skipper Robbie Keane, who had a brief spell in Italy with Inter Milan after being snapped up by Lippi earlier in his career, is fully aware of the task ahead but remained convinced this afternoon his side can leave with something to show for their efforts.

“I am not naive enough to think we are going to come here and walk all over the Italians," said the Spurs captain. “It’s going to be a difficult game. But we have to be positive enough to come here and hope to get a good result because, as players, you go into every game and you want to win every game.

“But if we get something out of the game - as long as we don’t lose, that’s the most important thing.”

It is a philosophy worthy of his manager, whose safety-first reputation precedes him. He once ventured the opinion that if he wanted to be entertained, he would go to the La Scala opera house, and he was sticking to his guns when that comment was put to him during his pre-match press conference.

“You can’t always play beautiful football when you are playing for a place in the championship or qualification.

“If I want to see a show, I go to La Scala; if I want results, I play football.”

The script will have to be well and truly torn up if he is to get a result tomorrow night.