Richard Dunne was back on the training pitch at Malahide today as the remainder of Giovanni Trapattoni's squad emerged unscathed a day before departing for southern Germany and a meeting with Georgia on Saturday. A sore throat forced the experienced defender to sit out training yesterday but his wellbeing was never a concern, and with Kevin Kilbane taking time out to get a face mask fitted to protect his broken cheekbone, the manager has no fresh injury concerns.

Trapattoni seems certain to make few changes with Kilbane likely to start at left full-back and Stephen Hunt or Andy Keogh in line to replace the injured Damien Duff.

In fact, news was so scarce today that the manager reneged on his promise to address the assembled press and, when assistant coach Liam Brady proved similarly reluctant, shoved Glenn Whelan into the limelight as the midfielder walked off Malahide United's Gannon Park.

The Stoke man pleaded with his coach to be let off the hook, insisting that he had drawn the short straw yesterday. Trapattoni was forced to find another sacrificial lamb and redirected Shane Long towards the dictaphones.

A little perplexed, the Reading striker accepted his fate and fielded the questions as Trapattoni left with a satisfied smirk.

Long is unlikely to start in Mainz, or in Montenegro four days later, but he's never far away from the action and knows from experience, at club and international level, what is required if Ireland are to qualify for South Africa 2010.

"When we looked at these games when the draw was made, we thought these are games we need to win," he said. "Last year for us (Reading) in the Premier League, we didn't beat the teams around us, and that's why we went down.

"We need to beat the teams around the bottom of the league to have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup."

Asked if four points would be a creditable return, the 21-year-old Long replied: "Yes, that would be good.

"But if we could get six points...that's what we are aiming for."

Long could be forgiven for being sick of the sight of fellow Reading striker and international teammate Kevin Doyle, whose presence has limited the Tipp man's chances on both fronts.

Doyle was expected to leave for the Premiership in the transfer window but Long reckons he still has something to learn from the Wexford striker.

"You need competition to improve yourself as a player, but Kevin is a great player and the club needs him to go back up," Long said. "He is a very good player who has proved himself in the Premier League, and playing with him is going to improve my game as well."

Long admits it might be even more difficult at international level. "It's going to be hard. There is Daryl Murphy and Andy Keogh to think about as well, so there are three of us fighting for that first place on the bench.

"But you need competition and I have got to keep working hard in training to get my place."