Image:Keane: Groin problem will be assessed during final preparations
The Republic of Ireland aim to give their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign a timely boost on Saturday.
Keane concern as Irish look to build on solid start
The Republic of Ireland aim to give their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign a timely boost by winning in Macedonia on Saturday.
Giovanni Trapattoni's men are firmly in the hunt for a place in next summer's finals as, with five games left, they are level at the top of Group B with Slovakia and Russia.
They are the next two up for the Republic so victory in Skopje would be a huge lift heading into September's qualifying double-header.
First-half goals by Aiden McGeady and Robbie Keane set the Irish on course for a 2-1 home win over Macedonia in their last qualifier and they have since gone on to win the Carling Nations Cup.
The hosts are second-bottom having won just one of their five games but won 3-2 on the Republic's first visit during France 98 qualifying and their other visit, for a Euro 2000 qualifier, finished 1-1.
Keane has since gone on to eclipse Niall Quinn as the nation's record scorer, and his three goals in last week's two Nations Cup games took his international tally to 49 from 107 caps.
Injury scare
The 30-year-old frontman has given Trapattoni an injury scare this week, though, as he had to sit out the final stages of a practice match during the squad's final training session on Thursday morning.
The Tottenham striker, who finished the season on loan at West Ham, has been struggling with an Achilles problem and then suffered a groin strain in training.
Keane is expected to train at the Philip II Stadium on Friday evening and although assistant boss Marco Tardelli admitted before the squad's departure that his injury was a concern, he believes the forward will be fit in time for Saturday evening's game, which will be shown live on Sky Sports HD1.
Wolves striker Kevin Doyle is injured so, should Keane fail to prove his fitness, West Brom striker Simon Cox is expected to cover having recently impressed, scoring on his debut against Northern Ireland last week.
Although fellow frontman Shane Long has been in fine form this season, Reading's run to the Championship play-off final looks to have taken its toll.
Cox could cover
"At this time, we have many choices and there are possibilities there to make decisions," said Tardelli.
"There is still a bit of a stress after Shane Long playing such a big match only on Monday. I don't know which one of them may play because we also have this problem with Robbie Keane.
"But it is fair to say that Simon Cox is ahead of Shane Long at this moment in time."
Aston Villa centre-back Richard Dunne is suspended while Sean St Ledger's attempt to make himself available after a 10-week lay-off with a knee injury looks doomed.
Stephen Kelly and Darren O'Dea are set to be in the back four ahead of Paul McShane and St Ledger, while versatile veteran Kevin Kilbane is back in contention after missing the final Nations Cup games due to his involvement in the League One play-off final with Huddersfield.
Stephen Hunt is expected to replace Liam Lawrence on the right wing although fellow midfielders Keith Andrews (Achilles) and Darron Gibson (groin) have been ruled out.