O'Shea - We know we need to win

Republic of Ireland defender John O'Shea has no interest in the noises being made by those in or around the Scotland camp ahead of Saturday's crucial Euro 2016 qualifier in Dublin – because either way he knows the Boys in Green need to win.

Martin O'Neill's men play host to Gordon Strachan's side at the Aviva Stadium this weekend, with current international Steven Naismith and former Scotland captain Tommy Boyd just two of those who have said that the pressure is all on Ireland because the Scots currently occupy the play-off spot at the midway stage of qualifying for France 2016.

James McClean said after training on Thursday that he believes it's an attempt at mind games from the opposition, but when the same question was put to O'Shea at the pre-match press conference in the Raddison Hotel on Friday, the 34 year old scoffed at the suggestion.

"Mind games? Oh my God...look, we need to win the game," stated O'Shea. "If we want to qualify for France, no matter who we're playing tomorrow, we need to win the game. So, they can say what they want."

However, despite wanting to take all three points from the tie, O'Shea was keen to stress that nothing will be decided on Saturday because there are "still games to go in the campaign" in Group D – and he agreed with his manager who believes the players will need to find a balance between approaching the game with passion and retaining a sense of coolness at the vital moments.

"You go back to the manager talking about the elements of the game – the passion, desire but also that composure to play that final pass," said O'Shea. "Those little elements are going to be key in the game because it is a derby game, it is going to be tight.

"I think those elements are going to be crucial because we're going to be taking chances when we're attacking and it's that decision you make of: do you take a guy on or do you play a pass – that's where we hope the players get it right, the crucial decisions and hopefully they score goals from it."

The Sunderland defender linked-up with the squad at the beginning of last week having helped the Wearside club to retain its Premier League status. O'Shea says going from a relegation scrap to a European Championships qualifier is just "one of those things [because] you want to get to major tournaments."

With the Waterford native likely to start the game on Saturday, he will come up against a familiar face in Scotland frontman Steven Fletcher, who was also a part of the Black Cats side which beat the drop. O'Shea doesn't envisage much back-slapping before the game but does intend to shake his club teammate's hand after the final whistle goes, regardless of the outcome.

"Obviously there won't be too much laughing and joking just before the game, but afterwards it'll be the same [back to normal]," said O'Shea. "You shake hands and you get on with things whatever the result was. You know the player, obviously you get on very well with the player but ultimately you want to beat him. That's it."

Having been paired together at the heart of the Irish defence for four of the five qualifiers so far, O'Shea is expected to line-up alongside Marc Wilson once again on Saturday. The Stoke City man was unavailable for Ireland's sole defeat in qualifying to date – the 1-0 reverse to this weekend's opponents in Glasgow last November.

And when asked about the difficulty of developing a partnership with somebody at international level and on whether or not he was confident that himself and Wilson have enough of an understanding to cope in the Scotland game, O'Shea quipped: ""I have to get picked myself first!"

The 103 times capped defender went on to add, "As you said, it's important, partnerships all over the pitch.

"Whether it be the right-back with the right centre-back or the left-back with the left centre-back, so it is important, but look, ultimately the squad that we have, there's plenty of competition for places and whatever combination the manager comes up with, the players know each other very well now.

"But it is important, obviously it gives you a chance – the more games you play together, the understanding can improve. Marc is a fantastic player and if he does get the nod to start I'm sure he'll do, as he always does, a great job for us."