Even before Brian Kerr had finished naming his squad in Dublin for next week's friendly international in Poland, David Pleat was confirming the first withdrawal in London where the Tottenham Hotspur manager revealed that Stephen Carr would miss the game due to a back injury.
The right back was forced to pull out of the recent win over the Czech Republic after picking up a knee injury during training the day before the game, but the current problem is apparently unrelated.
While Carr is out, Nicky Colgan, David Connolly and Andy O'Brien all return from injury.
John O'Shea, Gary Breen and Jason McAteer are recalled after being rested last time against the Czech Republic to allow them to concentrate on their preparations for the English FA Cup semi-finals.
Steven Reid is again missing from the panel due to his injury problems at Blackburn, but it is an otherwise strong squad with almost all of the panel's leading players included.
Robbie Keane, if he plays, will make his 50th international appearance in Poland, although Kerr will probably not be entirely sure of his travelling party until late next Sunday evening, as almost half of the squad, including the Spurs striker, are involved in club games this weekend.
Kerr, meanwhile, dismissed recent reports regarding problems within the squad during the days building up to the Czech game.
"If anyone suggests that there was unrest that affected the performance, then I'd have to point to the evidence on the pitch," he said.
"We've changed a few things over the past year and I don't expect everyone to like everything. If there are one or two fellas who have an odd day when they're not happy, tough," he added.
