The veteran coach, who guided the Azzurri to glory at the 2006 World Cup, has been under pressure to pick Sampdoria firebrand Antonio Cassano after his impressive start to the season but has so far resisted the clamour for the striker's recall.

Lippi has also been embroiled in a war of words with Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho this summer after tipping Mourinho's rivals Juventus - his former team - to win this season's Scudetto.

And Lippi is growing tired about the level of attention being paid to off-field matters.

"No-one gives a damn about the team," he is quoted as saying in Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Everyone speaks about Cassano and Mourinho during the week, but no-one has spoken about our fixtures against Georgia and Bulgaria, fixtures that could ensure our qualification for World Cup 2010."

Lippi's side, who currently lead Group Eight by a point ahead of the Republic of Ireland but having played a game less, play in Tblisi tomorrow before a midweek clash with Bulgaria in Turin.

The coach will be without Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio due to a thigh problem with Gennaro Gattuso also ruled out through injury. Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi is suspended for tomorrow's game.

Republic manager Giovanni Trapattoni has a doubt over Preston defender Sean St Ledger for the trip to face Cyprus.

St Leger will start alongside Richard Dunne in central defence is he suffers no further reaction to the knee injury which has hampered him all week.

Trapattoni has opted to start Hull winger Stephen Hunt instead of Celtic's in-form Aiden McGeady, conscious of the threat represented by Cyprus wide-man Efstathios Aloneftis.

Bulgaria are struggling in third place in the group ahead of the visit of Montenegro with coach Stanimir Stoilov admitting his side are up against it in their bid to qualify.

"If we win, we'll keep our chances of qualifying but if we lose, or even if we can't win, it's all over for us," he admitted.