SOCCER/Armenia v Slovakia:  ALL THINGS being equal, Ireland will walk out at the Aviva Stadium tonight needing a win to reclaim top spot in Group B. By that stage, the final whistle will have sounded in Yerevan and Vladimír Weiss's Slovakia side should be on their way to the airport with another three points safely in the bag.

The gulf in class between the sides is reflected in the Fifa rankings, with Weiss’s World Cup finalists (16th) some 90 places higher up the pecking order. But Armenia, as Ireland almost found out to their cost last month, can prove obdurate opponents and Yerevan is not a trip any side in Group B will take lightly.

Slovakia arrived in Armenian capital without injured striker Róbert Vittek, with Weiss placing his faith in the one-time Rangers poster boy Filip Sebo.

The 26-year-old has fallen upon fallow times since his move to Glasgow turned sour but Weiss, whose son (also Vladimír) now plies his trade with the Scottish club, is convinced he is the right man for the job.

“When it comes to physical condition, he’s one of the best in the group,” Weiss said of a call-up that left even the Slovan Bratislava forward a touch perplexed.

Whatever about the merits of Sebo, Weiss also has Stanislav Sesták at his disposal and the recent form of Marek Hamsik will hearten the Slovakian coach.

The attacking midfielder scored for Napoli against Serie A pacesetters Lazio at the weekend and was also on the scoresheet as the Italians came from 3-0 down to rescue a point against Steau Bucharest in the Europa League last Thursday.

Fenerbache’s Miroslav Stoch, who scored the winner against Russia in Moscow last month, will also prove a threat.

Unsurprisingly, the Slovakians are talking down their chances, with Mainz midfielder Miroslav Karhan sounding a note of caution.

“We have won in Russia and our fans expect the same success in Armenia. However, it will not be easy,” he warned.

“We should be ready for everything.”