His own future may still be up in the air as he prepares to lead his team into next month's World Cup qualification play-offs, but at least Mick McCarthy knows that a win over either Iran or the United Arab Emirates in a couple of weeks will put him in the driving seat when the time comes to sit down around a table with the FAI.

That must look like an enviable enough position to Tini Ruijs, the Dutch-born UAE national coach, whose position looks to be openly up for grabs even as he tries to guide tomorrow's home side to what would be only their second appearance at a World Cup finals.

Even as the former Fortuna Sittard coach completes his preparations for the game, however, Cesare Maldini is expected to arrive in town, one of a number of higher profiled foreigners apparently being considered to take over the national team ahead of next year's Gulf Cup.

But Ruijs, who took charge of the side after Abdulla Saqer was sacked three games into the second phase of the qualification campaign, will know that he and his players can still make things tough for his somewhat star struck employers.

The UAE beating Iran is considered unlikely, even in these parts, but the Dutch man, who came to the UAE four years ago after helping to bring young stars like Kevin Hufland and Mark van Bommel through back at home in Holland, is insistent that his side's chances are far from dead in the wake of last Thursday's one sided, but ultimately narrow, defeat in Tehran.

"We're from Europe and we know that if we play away there, 1-0 is a good result," he says, as his players complete their training session and start to wander off towards the dressing-room.

"The temperament here, though, is different. And, if things start to go wrong, sometimes they lose control of everything.

"We saw it with Iran in Bahrain when they went behind and ended up having two players and their manager sent off. Everything fell apart for them, and if we can just score a goal against them here on Wednesday then it will be a very open game in which everything will be there for the taking."

One of Ruijs's major concerns, he says, are the local fans whose commitment to their team often seems less than solid when events start to unravel.

"They're very critical and too quickly turn against their own players. But if the place is full (it holds around 18,000 and is said to be on course to sell out) and they get really behind the side then it is still very possible for the UAE to win."

If they do, then the Dutchman is savouring the prospect of having a crack at the side that put his own nation out of the competition. Ruijs saw the game, reckons Shay Given fouled Ruud van Nistelrooy and, although he's almost too polite to mention it, reckons they were robbed when the referee failed to award the Manchester United striker a penalty.

"It's just bad luck, though, and who knows, perhaps the same will happen here and that will be the end of us. But I am Dutch and I know the real reason that Holland are out of the World Cup is because of the home games at the start of the campaign when we were missing players and lost five points. If you lose five points at home like that, of course you make things very difficult in the later stages."

In fact, even that single goal deficit looks like a bit of a mountain for his team of part-timers who must take on a side that includes several rather accomplished professionals who earn their wages in Europe.

All the more reason why, if he and his men do pull off a surprise tomorrow night, Signor Maldini, like the Iranians, might well end up going home empty handed.

Meanwhile, McCarthy is expected to make contact with Alex Ferguson today to get an update on the Roy Keane situation. McCarthy said: "To date I have not spoken to Roy or Alex, but have heard all the reports from home about Keane's knee problem.

"I am delighted that Alex will be happy to do his best to allow Roy to play in one of our most important World Cup games in years."

And McCarthy was buoyed by the suggestion that Ferguson might keep Keane wrapped in cotton wool for the first game in Dublin but allow him to travel for the second leg.

"I would be happy to go along with that suggestion," said McCarthy.

"I know that Roy is desperately keen to lead his country to the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea next summer. Hopefully, with 12 days remaining before the first match at Lansdowne Road, he can overcome his injury problems."