FOR the moment they are the reserve force, but Anthony Stokes says that he and the rest of Ireland's fringe players are ready to be drafted into action against France over the next 180 minutes and answer Ireland's call when it comes.

Giovanni Trapattoni's team for Saturday's World Cup play-off against the French picks itself, with effectively only one position up for grabs, leaving Aiden McGeady, Stephen Hunt and Liam Lawrence competing for the last available slot in the team.

But history shows us that the unexpected presents itself for Irish teams in play-off games. Jeff Kenna was sprung from the bench after only 30 minutes of Ireland's home game against Belgium in the play-off for the 1998 World Cup as Mick McCarthy's experiment with Mark Kennedy in a free role turned out to be a disaster.

And the Euro 2000 play-off against Turkey saw a host of changes foisted on McCarthy, with Alan Kelly suffering an injury early in the second half of the home leg that saw him replaced by Dean Kiely, Robbie Keane earning a booking in the home match that saw forced him out of the game in Turkey due to suspension, while Stephen Carr suffered an injury just five minutes into the second leg and he was replaced by Rory Delap.

Add in the fact that three of tomorrow's starting line up -- Shay Given, Aiden McGeady and Keith Andrews -- will miss the second leg if they are booked against the French at Croke Park, which may prompt Trapattoni to call on his bench men at some stage, so Hibernian man Stokes -- back in the squad for the first time in a year -- says he will be ready if called upon.

"You keep your hopes up that something might come up for you. We have a big squad here and everyone wants to play. Chances are we will get one or two injuries and we may need players to come off the bench, so we are all keeping on our toes," said Stokes, capped three times at senior level.

"The lads who are in the team ahead of everyone else deserve to be there. They are doing it week in, week out in the Premier League and they have done the business for Ireland in the campaign all along, so it's hard to break into that team. But I have to make sure I am fit and ready to come in if needed.

massive

"I'm just glad to be involved, we have two massive games, and playing in the World Cup is something we are all aiming for. And if we can perform the way we did against Italy, we will be OK.

"I missed the last few Ireland squads but I am back playing well at club level now, I'm back in the Ireland squad for these games and I have a chance of being involved. I know I am down the pecking order with Ireland, but I have had a few days' training now and that's a chance for me to impress and show what I can do. I haven't played for Ireland yet under Trapattoni and hopefully I can do enough here to show that I deserve to be in the squad on a long-term basis.

I want to be playing for my country as much as possible, I missed it when I was out of the picture, so I want more caps," added Stokes.

The player made his Ireland debut in the disaster away to San Marino and won two more caps in friendly games under Steve Staunton, but a falling-out with U21 team manager Don Givens seemed to put Stokes' international career in cold storage, so he's pleased to be back in the senior fold.

"There is no point in me speaking about what's gone on in the past. I wanted to play for my country at any level, it's hard to get into the senior panel now with Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle ahead of you. It would be nice to be playing for the U21s if they are the only games I can get. I would like to play for Ireland at any level I can," he said, glad that his move to SPL side Hibernian has worked out after his career stalled at Sunderland.

"A lot of people have written me off but there is more to come. I have to do my talking on the pitch now and show what I can do in my performances, not in interviews or by reputation. I have the opportunity this week to show that I can play at this level.

Gelled

"It's been a brilliant move for me so far -- the main thing was to be playing week in, week out. We started the season well and got better when players like Liam Miller came in. It all gelled well and hopefully we can keep up our good run.

"There was no point in me sitting in the reserves at Sunderland for months on end, playing the odd game here and there in the cups. I needed games at this stage of my life. I am 21 now and this is the time in your career when you have to be playing every week. So I am glad the move has worked out well.

"We had a good start to the season. Third in the table is good. I know everyone is saying 'let's see where Hibs are six weeks after Christmas, if they can last the pace', but we have a good squad and we are where we are in the table on merit. I just hope we can keep up that form into next year."

- Aidan Fitzmaurice