Portugal manager Luis Antonio Oliveira has named a strong, mostly home-based, 20-man squad to face Ireland on October 7 in Lisbon.

The small foreign-based legion though includes the most expensive player in the world, Luis Figo of Real Madrid; Lazio's Fernando Couto; Napoli's Vidigal; Parma's Serio Conceicao; Barcelona's Simao Sabrosa; and Rui Costa of Fiorentina.

Six of the squad are from last year's Portuguese league champions, Sporting Lisbon - and if Mick McCarthy is still on talking terms with Phil Babb it wouldn't hurt to give the defender a phone call to see what kind of form they are on at the moment.

Porto supply four players to the squad, including goalkeeper Pedro Espinha who looks certain to start against the Irish.

The Portuguese play Ireland on Saturday week and then four days later they play Holland in Amsterdam - so after the week they will know their chances of progressing to the World Cup finals.

Senior Squad (to play Ireland on October 7): Rui Bento (Boavisto), Pauleta (Bordeaux), Simao Sabrosa (Barcelona), Capucho, Jorge Costa, Pedro Espinha, Secretario (all Porto), Rui Costa (Fiorentina), Fernando Couto (Lazio), Vidigal (Napoli), Sergio Conceicao (Parma) Luis Figo (Real Madrid), Quim (Braga), Fernando Meira (Benfica), Beto, Bino, Dima, Joao Pinto, Rui Jorge, Sa Pinto (all Sporting Lisbon)

Portugal u21 Squad to play Ireland at Marinha Grande on October 6: Ednilson (Roma), Hugo Leal (Atletico Madrid), Semedo (Estrela Amadora), Filipe Teixeira, Fredy, Marcio Santos (all Felqueiras), Alhandra, Candido Costa, Tonel (all Porto), Marco Almeida (Leca), Hugo Carreira (Deportivo), Caneira, Paulo Costa ( both Reggina), Luis Filipe (Braga), Sergio Leite [goalkeeper] (Espinho), Miguel (Benfica), Vasco Faisca (Vicenza), Joao Paulo, Paulo Ferreira (both Vitoria FC), Pedro Mendes (Vitoria de Guimaraes).