Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is confident Robbie Keane will be fit to start preparations for Euro 2012 after an injury scare.
Keane is due to arrive in Dublin from the United States on Monday after undergoing a scan on a hamstring strain.
Trapattoni said: "The news is the scan in the US was not bad. We are not worried and we await him with confidence.
"Robbie for us is important. I think we have enough time for him to recover. I think we have time.
"We have three or four options, also important options, but obviously Robbie is our captain, our opponents have respect for him and he's experienced. He's important."
The news about the 31-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy striker came as the bulk of the remaining members of Trapattoni's squad met the 10 who joined up last Thursday to start training in Malahide.
Sunderland defender John O'Shea was a notable absence, though.
The 31-year-old, a key member of Ireland's defence throughout the last two campaigns, aggravated an ankle problem in his club's final day 1-0 Premier League defeat by Manchester United, although again, a scan allayed Trapattoni's worst fears.
However, he trained only in the gym on Sunday, while Keith Fahey and Kevin Foley, who have groin and hamstring problems respectively, worked apart from the group.
Trapattoni said: "John O'Shea has a little bit of an ankle problem, a little bit of a knock, but it's no problem. Maybe tomorrow, he can start the training.
"Foley and Fahey today trained separately, but we have confidence about their situation. I think in two or three days, they can be ready."
Ireland have been pitched into battle with reigning World and European champions Spain, Trapattoni's native Italy and Croatia in Group C and face a real scrap if they are to make it to the quarter-final stage.
But having seen Chelsea defy the odds to beat Bayern Munich in Saturday night's Champions League final having already disposed of the mighty Barcelona in the last four, Trapattoni insists the Republic should fear no-one.
He said: "I think we can have confidence. The opponents, we know - Spain, Italy, the same Croatia - are strong.
"But I said also to the players, the example is like yesterday evening when Chelsea beat Bayern when Bayern were favourites. That is very important."
But asked if his team would attempt to set up like Chelsea to frustrate their opponents, the 73-year-old added: "We have other players, another attitude.
"It's not possible to choose a system or attitude. We have confidence about our mentality, our attitude - with this, we have achieved good results.
"I will say to the players we have to do what we have done until now."
Trapattoni has indicated all along that he will largely rely upon the men who took Ireland to the finals in Poland and Ukraine when they get there, although Sunderland winger James McClean has done everything he can to give the manager something to think about.
Trapattoni admits the 23-year-old, who only won his first senior cap as a substitute against the Czech Republic in February, has already made an impression.
Asked how McClean, who arrived last Thursday, had fitted in, the Italian said: "Very well, with confidence. He's like one of the senior players. Very well."
Trapattoni has signalled his intention to extend the midfielder's range by working with him on the right as well as in his more accustomed left-sided role, and that is something he plans to do in Malahide this week.
The manager said: "We have a plan for this. We will also look about his attitude.
"I think he can do it. When he plays on the left, he comes inside, but now that is a situation I can test out."
