Ireland boss Mick McCarthy will name his squad to face Portugal and Estonia today at a press conference in Dublin. It is expected that Phil Babb and Mark Kennedy will again be omitted after their night of madness during the warm-up to the Holland game.

Ireland got off to a steady start in Group 2 of World Cup qualifying and McCarthy will be looking for the same high-performance display against Portugal on October 7, in Lisbon.

A draw for the Irish against the talented Portuguese would put them in pole position in the group even though they would only have two points.

They would have two of the hardest away games behind them and, while Portugal and Holland are always dangerous, Ireland on their day can beat any team in the world at Lansdowne Road.

It is unlikely that McCarthy will change his starting line-up for the Portugal match but some fringe players do have a chance of getting back into the squad - especially Lee Carsley, Keith O'Neill and Stephen McPhail.

Mick's main problem will again be the central defensive partnership with Kenny Cunningham still injured and Phil Babb missing - but after the display of Richard Dunne and Gary Breen against the Dutch he wont be overly worried.

Dunne acquitted himself excellently in Amsterdam and looked as if he was a seasoned international, but the real surprise of the Dutch game was the display of Gary Breen.

The out-of-favour Coventry defender had his best game yet in the green of Ireland and long may that form continue.

The 22 that McCarthy names today will also be his squad for Ireland's first home game in the qualifiers, against Estonia.

Whatever happens in Lisbon McCarthy knows that the Irish must beat Estonia four days later if they are to hold any realistic chance of qualification.

Estonia are a bit of an unknown quantity but they can dig in and secure a result on their day. McCarthy will be hoping that the game in Dublin is not the visitors' day.