Martin O'Neill passed Jon Walters fit for Saturday evening's crunch World Cup qualifier against Georgia, and admitted his men face an awkward night at the office in the sweltering Tbilisi heat.
Walters sat out full training earlier in the week due to a niggling ankle injury but the Burnley man came through a good workout on Thursday and O'Neill is happy he's ready for action.
"Jon has come through well and looks good," said O'Neill on Friday afternoon. "It's a great boost for us."
Ireland have won every one of the eight games they've played against Georgia to date but nobody in the visiting camp is expecting an easy ride.
Of those eight wins only one was by more than one goal - and that came in a 2009 friendly. Vladimir Weiss's men were impressive in Dublin last October when they were undeservedly beaten 1-0.
They want that elusive victory against Ireland and, despite missing key players and being out of the running for qualification, seem pumped up for tomorrow's encounter.
"It's there. It's what we face. Hopefully the players will adapt. We know it will be very hot," O'Neill added referring to the soaring temperatures. Presently, it's in the 30s in Georgia as a heat wave welcomes the boys in green.
"We have to keep the ball well in these conditions. This is a genuinely difficult game for us, as it was in Dublin."
O'Neill also had plenty of praise for Aiden McGeady, who has found form at Sunderland since a summer move and who scored both of Ireland's goals when they beat Georgia 2-1 in Tbilisi, back in the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
The Irish boss stopped short of revealing whether or not McGeady would start tomorrow evening but he did say that he expects him to play some role in proceedings.
Reflecting on the last time Ireland were in Georgia, O'Neill said: "Aidan’s in pretty good form and he’s in decent shape. I remember that distinctly when we came here a few years ago.
"He was probably as fit as I’ve seen him for quite some time and he relished it and scored a fantastic late goal to win the game for us.
"I think those sort of things will still be in your mind, they’ll certainly be in his mind and not too far from my own."
Things are going well for McGeady on and off the pitch at the moment and the Irish boss is pleased with the way the winger has started the season.
"Whether he starts the game or not, he is in good form, his wife has just had a baby and I think things are good for him in his life and his personal life.
"On the field Sunderland are pretty happy with him, that’s good, he’s coming in here in decent form with managers who believe in him. A club manager Simon Grayson who believes in him and I never lost faith in him really in that sense.
"It may take something like that again to get something tomorrow."
Georgia v Republic of Ireland (kick-of 5pm) is live on RTÉ2 from 4pm, radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Saturday Sport and live blog on RTÉ Sport Online and the News Now App.
