Darren O'Dea is ready and willing to step into Richard Dunne's boots if two World Cup qualifiers inside five days prove too much for him.
Dunne is likely to return to competitive action for the Republic of Ireland against Sweden in Dublin on Friday evening with Austria waiting in the wings in Vienna four days later as the Group C campaign comes to a head.
But the 33-year-old QPR defender has played only 25 minutes for his country since the Euro 2012 finals after missing an entire domestic season through injury, and O'Dea is on red alert.
He said: "I will be ready either way, as will everyone in the squad.
"But certainly he looks fit and well and knowing the Championship well, if he can get through games in that, he can get through games in anything.
"He is obviously fit and strong. It is good news. We want to qualify for the World Cup and he is obviously a massive part of it, so it's good news for the whole squad.
"We will wait and see. It's up to him and the manager, but certainly, I will be ready either way."
Dunne's fitness problems meant he missed the 0-0 draw with the Swedes in Stockholm in March, a game which saw Ireland effectively shackle dangerman Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
However, while the onus will be on Giovanni Trapattoni's defenders to keep the Paris St Germain striker at bay once again, O'Dea insists that task is one which will involve the whole team.
He said: "Sometimes you can concentrate too much on one player.
Source: PA
