Quinn prepares to eclipse Stapleton

Niall Quinn is hoping to celebrate his 35th birthday in style on Saturday when the Republic of Ireland complete their Group Two World Cup qualifying campaign against Cyprus at Lansdowne Road.

The veteran Sunderland striker, who will win his 86th cap if he plays as expected, can set a new Irish record of 21 international goals if he can hit the target against the Cypriots.

At present, Quinn shares the record of 20 goals with the former Manchester United and Arsenal player Frank Stapleton.

"Niall will be in from the start and I'd love to see him score the winner. So long as we win the game and collect three points to stretch our unbeaten record to 15 games," said the Republic manager, Mick McCarthy.

"Niall has been playing very well for his club this season, scoring goals and getting through the 90 minutes.

"Should Ireland qualify for the finals in Japan and South Korea, I want Niall to be on the plane with us. Maybe Ireland will be setting a trend with 35-year-old strikers."

McCarthy will not name his starting line-up until tomorrow, but he has already revealed that Manchester United's Roy Keane will again captain the side with Newcastle's Shay Given in goal and Quinn in attack. With Blackburn's Damien Duff ruled out by injury, Quinn will partner either Wimbledon's David Connolly or Clinton Morrison, of Crystal Palace, in attack.

McCarthy will also have to decide whether to risk playing Robbie Keane (Leeds), Jason McAteer (Blackburn), Mark Kinsella (Charlton) and Kenny Cunningham (Wimbledon). The quartet all have yellow cards from earlier qualifying matches and may be rested to avoid picking up a suspension for the play-off games against an as-yet unknown nation from the Asian qualifying section.