IT'S not always all that obvious just how relevant a game like this is to an international team as they prepare for an important qualifier. Clubs are particularly anxious around this time not to lose players, so there is probably a bit of pressure on them to err on the side of caution if they are carrying any sort of knock at all. The result can often be that a manager finds himself throwing out a fairly makeshift side from which he can learn precious little.

For tonight's game, Mick McCarthy has certainly had to cope with his fair share of cry offs, with Phil Babb and Alan Moore only joining the absentees yesterday. On balance, though, he has not fared too badly, and despite the defections he appears to have the opportunity to get more out of this encounter than might have been expected by fielding a considerable portion of the side that he intends to send out against Macedonia.

True, Keith Branagan is a little fortunate to find himself in the first team picture, and a couple of our main front runners are not around. But, in midfield and defence, most of the main players are available and it will be interesting to see how McCarthy uses them.

At the back, he has a number of options with Breen, McGrath and Staunton, as well as, of course, Roy Keane most prominent among them. The Corkman's role is, in fact, central to the whole make up of the team and it is important that he is returned to midfield where he is of most value to this Irish team.

Against Iceland, Keane was restrained rather than liberated by the job he was given at the back, and even if he has proven that he can play that position to considerable effect at club level he is still a greater asset to the Republic in the heart of midfield.

Paul McGrath will start the game, as will Staunton, who has been named captain. Alongside them at the back Breen, who has made a fine start to his Coventry career, seems the obvious choice if the three do well tonight then I would have thought that only the return of Denis Irwin ahead of the Macedonia game would seriously tempt McCarthy to change things.

McGrath's return is to be welcomed, even if it is, realistically, a fairly short term move by the manager. But his role is likely to be quite restricted, with McCarthy looking to the Derby defender to hold his position while those on either side do the bulk of the running.

As they always are to McCarthy, the wing backs will be important and it will be interesting to see who he picks to play out wide this evening. Terry Phelan is expected to get a start on the left, while on the right it could be anyone from Kelly, McAteer or Kenna.

Of these McAteer may prove more valuable in the middle alongside Keane and either Kennedy or McLoughlin. But again it will be intriguing as to just how much things are shaken up after the disappointment of our last competitive outing.

On that occasion we lacked guile going forward against a rather mediocre defence, and on our coming travels we will have to be sharper about unlocking opposing defences.

Not that winning will be a particular priority on this occasion. This game is far more about allowing the players a little time to prepare mentally for the trips away and to become more accustomed to what the new manager expects of them in given situations.

McCarthy is clearly devoted to the system the team have been playing, and the more time he gets to work with his panel on the finer points of the pattern the better.

The temptation in these situations is increasingly towards just getting players together for a few training sessions, but that is never really as good as a competitive game.

If, of course, Jon Goodman or David Kelly could stick in a couple of goals and help the team to an impressive win, then all the better. But winning this game is, perhaps, only 20 per cent of what McCarthy will be looking to achieve this evening.

If a professional display in which we succeed in maximising our strengths and minimising our weaknesses is topped with a win, though, and the players head for Macedonia and Romania with an away victory under their belts, then so much the better for them, Mick and, of course, the rest of us.