The 33-year-old is in line to win his 99th senior international cap against reigning champions Italy at Croke Park on Saturday evening, a game which will have a major say in the nation's qualification hopes.

With the Italians four points clear at the top of Group 8 with just two games remaining, only a major collapse would see Giovanni Trapattoni's men snatch top spot, and that means the play-offs represent a more likely route to South Africa.

However, FIFA's announcement last week that the two-leg showdowns will be seeded means they are likely to come up against one of the stronger second-placed teams - France and Portugal are among those struggling to qualify automatically - and that has come as a major blow.

Given, who played at the 2002 finals in the Far East, said: "I think it's pretty disgusting, to be honest. Before a ball is kicked, these things should be made clear.

"Now they change it because some of the big nations are struggling. It's beyond belief, if you ask me.

"It's pretty disgusting because we are a smaller nation and for them to move the goalposts a few weeks before the end of the campaign is pretty poor.

"The smaller nations should maybe put up more of a fight because it is not fair."

Trapattoni believes the rules should be changed in future to ensure all teams are competing on an even playing field.

The 70-year-old Italian said: "In the future, FIFA and UEFA have to think about changing this rule.

"Four or five years ago, the big teams - like Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid - wanted to create a super league, but it was dangerous for football and they gave up on it.

"That would have been the death of football. It was football for eight teams and the others are dead.

"This situation in the future must change, because every country has the right to qualify.

"This draw must be open to give the same opportunity to everybody."

Victory over Italy would send the Republic into Wednesday night's home clash with Montenegro still needing the current holders not to beat Cyprus on home soil the same night while they collect another three points if they are to win the group.

However, if the Republic have to book their trip to South Africa via the play-offs, Trapattoni insists they will not be afraid of any team.

He said: "We know what sort of team we are, we know which position we are in the ranking.

"But for me, it is not important because big teams can lose. Now I am sure our team is confident and in football, anything can happen.

"If Italy lose the last two games, maybe we qualify [automatically]. But if we go into the play-offs, we have high morale and we can compete with any team.

"Up until now, in every game we have improved. In the last game against South Africa, we played well and we won.

"If we play in the play-offs, we will not be afraid of any team.

"For me, it is not important because we can play against good teams - we will see on Saturday against Italy.

"I am confident against all teams."

In the short term, all that matters is Saturday's game, when a draw would be enough to settle matters at the top in the favour of the visitors.

Trapattoni's plans have been disrupted by the absence of Fulham winger Damien Duff, who is out with a calf injury, while Blackburn's Steven Reid and Manchester United's Darron Gibson have joined striker Caleb Folan on the casualty list.

The manager raised eyebrows by drafting QPR midfielder Martin Rowlands into the squad rather than turning once again to in-form Andy Reid, although he was quick to insist once again that the Sunderland man has not fallen permanently beneath the radar as a result of their infamous spat in Germany.

Trapattoni said: "I have seen him, I follow Andy Reid - I also follow Lee Carsley, Steven Reid. But at this moment, we have a good squad of 25, 26, 27 players."