John O'Shea is backing Sunderland team-mate Kieren Westwood to fill the considerable void vacated by Shay Given following his announcement yesterday he was retiring from international football.
With a number of big-name players absent, O'Shea will don the Republic of Ireland armband for the first time in his career tomorrow for the friendly with Serbia in Belgrade.
An unusual Ireland dressing room will be lacking Given, Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne and Damien Duff, so it falls on O'Shea to serve as the elder statesman in a relatively young group.
For Westwood, in particular, it is his chance to step into the spotlight hogged by Given for the majority of the last 16 years over which time the Aston Villa goalkeeper won a record 125 caps.
With just 10 to his name in three years, and with a World Cup qualifying campaign looming over the horizon, for Westwood the clash with Serbia could be the start of a long international career.
"Tomorrow is going to be very different because for the majority of my caps Shay has been the goalkeeper," said defender O'Shea.
"He was a fantastic personality, incredible to have around the place, and great for the young lads as well.
"He was someone you could rely upon because when the defence was breached he generally rescued us a lot of the time.
"But he made his decision and we have to get on with it. Now is the time for the new lads, and Kieren in particular.
"I know at close hand, working with him at Sunderland, how well he has been training and performing.
"He hasn't let Ireland down before when he has come in, so fingers crossed he'll fill the void more than comfortably."
Westwood's problem, however, is he is understudy at the Stadium of Light to Belgium's number one Simon Mignolet, with his last first-team appearance on St Stephen's Day last year.
A lack of senior club football is hardly the ideal platform on which to build an international career, but O'Shea has revealed Westwood has been taking steps to correct that.
"Kieren came back into pre-season earlier than he had to to make a point to the manager (Martin O'Neill) to say he wants to fight for the number one jersey," said O'Shea.
"It's a funny situation, and Martin has said himself recently he has a tough decision on his hands to pick his number one.
"I don't think it's going to be a problem for us because Kieren knows if he is going to be number one for Ireland, he has to be number one at club level. We'll wait and see."
For O'Shea, taking on the role of captain is naturally one which fills him with pride, even though it may only be a one off.
O'Shea added: "I've captained Ireland at under-15, 16 and 18, and I might have been captain of the under-21s at some stage, so to be captain of the senior team is a fantastic honour.
"Fingers crossed we get a positive result, but I won't look too far ahead and think about anything else.
"It's just for this game, but I'm absolutely delighted with it.
"It's something that when I finish football I can look back on with my family and kids."
