AS IRELAND FACE into a week of hard slog against Andorra and Armenia, the side’s skipper says he’s raring to go, despite his draining commute.

Robbie Keane reckons the return trip from LA and back won’t affect his performance against the Group B minnows tonight and Armenia in the pool climax in Dublin on Tuesday.

“I have been sleeping the same as I would. The last week has been fine, sleeping as normal, so I have no complaints there at all,” he told reporters last night.

“As soon as I leave, I switch the clock and I have been lucky enough that I’ve slept really well and it’s been fine.”

Six points from the two games would guarantee Ireland at least a play-off spot; and TheScore readers seem confident Trap’s men can achieve that over the next few days.

Should Slovakia, however, beat leaders Russia tonight, two wins would send the Boys in Green straight to Poland and Ukraine.

Here’s how the group stands at the moment:

Keane reckons there's yet more twists to come in group that has been marked by remarkable results. The Tallaght man warned Ireland will have to at their best.

"You go into every game wanting to win. We are the clear favourites and rightly so, but we have to just concentrate on what we are doing and focus on our own jobs," he said.

"We can't just come here and think we are just going to get three points and that's it, and walk out. We have to earn it and give 100%, and we will do that."

Glenn Whelan was selected as expected yesterday but is on a yellow card and in danger of missing the Armenia game.But his manager told him to hold nothing back tonight.

"He must play like he always does," added Trapattoni. "These three points are more important than whether he gets a yellow card or not."

We'll go minute-by-minute for Slovakia-Russia and then the Ireland game this evening.

Republic of Ireland team: Given, O'Shea, St Ledger, O'Dea, Ward, Duff, Andrews, Whelan, McGeady, Doyle, Keane.