Sunderland defender Paul McShane has come a long way since he made his Republic of Ireland debut in the Euro 2008 draw against the Czech Republic at Lansdowne Road last year.

McShane only got his chance because of injuries to Steve Staunton's regular centre-back pair of Richard Dunne and Andy O'Brien, and he seized his chance by being named man of the match.

Now McShane is preparing for the Republic's crucial qualifying double-header against Slovakia and the Czechs again as one of the most important members of Staunton's travelling squad.

McShane said: "I remember that Czech Republic game as the starting point of my career really. It was a high-profile game with a lot of pressure and to get man of the match was brilliant."

McShane has been receiving equally rave reviews for his Premier League performances for Sunderland this season and his role will be even more important in Bratislava given injuries to fellow defenders Stephen Carr and Steve Finnan.

McShane has been struggling to shrug off a shoulder problem but the pain gradually eased during the squad get-together in Dublin and he looks certain to pronounce himself fit to play.

He added: "It's all been a step up and it's been enjoyable and exciting for me. I left Manchester United a year ago and it was great to go back there as a Premier League player last week.

"Now I am going to these places with Ireland and they are great places to go and play football. They will be great atmospheres but certainly we have nothing to fear. I am going there with only six points in mind."

Republic keeper Shay Given shares McShane's confidence as well as his one-track mind as he prepares to take the gloves for a record 81st time, eclipsing Packie Bonner's caps record for a keeper.

"Records are something to look back on at the end of your career but at the moment all I am concentrating on is getting the results we need," said Given. "I am not thinking about records at all."

One statistic which Given which will be equally keen to ignore is the one which says the Irish have failed to win a single significant qualifier away from home for an incredible 20 years.

That notorious homesickness was alleviated to some extent by the Republic's superb 4-0 friendly win in Denmark last month, a result from which Given says his team-mates can take heart.

"We've taken a lot of stick in the past that we haven't travelled away so well so it was great to go to Denmark and get four goals and a clean sheet," added Given. "It has given us the belief that we can go away and get results."