SOCCER WORLD CUP QUALIFIER:THE NEED to get the sense of a report into a few words sometimes means newspaper headlines read a little more harshly than the words below and it's routine stuff for reporters to have to point out they don't write them.

At Malahide yesterday, though, this paper's representative in the press pack found himself in the relatively unfamiliar position of wanting to assert collective responsibility when Giovanni Trapattoni arrived for the pitch-side briefing.

"I am a Trappist, I am a Trappist," he said, clearly delighting in the headline over yesterday's Irish Times report from the training session where he had cheerfully declined to speak with journalists. With a finger raised in front of a broad smile he added: "I don't speak but I think a great deal."

With the phoney war of the friendlies out of the way, the Italian was clearly in high spirits as the preparations neared completion for tomorrow's opening game of the World Cup campaign against Georgia in Mainz. "Today there is good news," he beamed while raising an arm towards the sky above. "Sun and no wind! It is very beautiful, I smile but I will be serious."

Even the serious stuff involved good news on this occasion, with the Italian confirming that Kevin Kilbane, who trained through most of yesterday's session wearing the mask that will protect his fractured cheekbone tomorrow, will be fit to play.

"Kilbane is okay," he said. "His only problem is that he needs the protection but he will play and that is a great situation for us. We also have Delaney, but in general the team is prepared and ready so I am confident."

The Wigan left back, then, will line up in a side that is virtually unchanged from the one that drew in Norway last month. Stephen Hunt, the coach confirmed, will start in midfield - on the right if the positioning in yesterday's training is an accurate indicator - while Steven Reid, Glenn Whelan and Aiden McGeady all retain their places.

The squad that left for Frankfurt yesterday, indeed, was as close to full strength as the Italian could realistically have hoped for. Stephen Ireland and Andy O'Brien have not returned, while Duff is injured but Trapattoni's predecessor Steve Staunton had to cope with a good deal worse more than once.

In the circumstances, Trapattoni was happy to acknowledge after a training session that lasted more than two hours and concluded with a good deal of work on the team's set-pieces that things have gone well.

"Before the last game in Norway we couldn't have training in the morning because it was raining and there was a lot of wind," he said. "But now we don't have any excuses. We have prepared well and all the players understand how important the first game is.

"Today it was important to clarify the positions in corners, free-kicks and set-pieces, not to do much running. We clarified today all the little details and situations. We have done our exercises and there is a good mentality. I am confident about all of the players. Without any bad surprises we can start like we did today."

Asked what he feels such a team should be capable of taking from the two games, he was careful not to dig a hole for himself while recognising there is little room to slip up. "In football I play normally with two results," he said, "a draw and a win. It's important we get a positive result . . . it's very important. These are our first two games out and it's important that when the team comes back to Ireland we haven't lost."

As for the idea that the Georgians will, in the circumstances, be the more motivated of the two sides, Trapattoni is at pains to suggest his players should be just as determined on the day. "I don't know why we can't have the same situation," he said with a hint of bafflement. "I've already said we must be proud to play with the national team. We played enough good games against Serbia, Colombia and Norway. I think we have enough quality, our quality, to look to qualify for South Africa."

Tickets for tomorrow's game went on sale in Mainz yesterday where Irish supporters reported being able to pay for seats in the section of the ground or the main stand, which has been set aside for locals. Sales are due to continue until teatime today and again in the morning.