Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this huge match for Ireland in Slovakia.

McGeady tries his first attacking run of the match but he just runs into Zabavník

Stanislav Sestak gets a bit of a bang from Kilbane but he will be fine.

John O'Shea finds Keane inside the box but Keane just cannot get the ball to Long – bright start from the Irish though.

Ireland with more of the early play but we are still settling down.

And we are underwear – Slovakia all in white, Ireland all in green.

The anthems are just being played at the moment – it is a tight stadium that only holds 11,000 and there is cracking atmosphere – much better than the creeking old stadium in Bratislava which was only half full last time Ireland were in town.

The referee tonight is Alberto Undiano Mallenco of Spain.

Ireland's and Slovakia were in the same qualifying tournament for the 2008 UEFA Championship. Ireland won 1-0 in Dublin and it was a 2-2 draw in Bratislava.

Slovakia are managed by Vladimir Weiss - the father of the Manchester City owned and current Rangers player of the same name who is in the Slovak team tonight.

Russia will travel to play FYR Macedonia in Skopje which will not be easy - you can follow that game here:

It was a wild night last Friday when Ireland played Russia at the Aviva Stadium.

Armenia are actually top of the group for the moment as they have enjoyed a stroll against Andorra today.

Robbie Keane believes Shane Long can surprise the Slovakian defence when he takes Kevin Doyle's place in the Republic of Ireland side tonight.

Slovakia, Ireland and Russia all have six points in this group after a wild Friday where Ireland lost at home to Russia and Slovakia crashed in Armenia. It is all up for grabs now.

This match is in Zilna, not Bratislava. The FAI have put on free trains for the Irish fans who have travelled to the Slovak capital though.

Shane Long for Kevin Doyle was confirmed but Liam Lawrence is out so Keith Fahey of Birmingham City, who scored the winner in Armenia, is fit to start.

Slovakia: Mucha, Durica, Zabavnik, Karhan, Weiss, Sestak, Hubocan, Salata, Hamsik, Jendrisek, Kucka; Subs: Pernis, Pekarik, Pecalka, Stoch, Holosko, Oravec, Sebo /// Rep of Ireland: Given, St, Ledger, Kilbane, O'Shea, Dunne, Whelan, Fahey, Green, Long, Keane, McGeady; Subs: Murphy, Keogh, McShane, Wilson, Gibson, Foley, Cunningham