The Ireland manager has decided to use the game at Landsdowne Road to try out some different partnerships both in attack and defence and the Blues skipper has been named amongst the Ireland substitutes.
For me thats a blessing in disguise as Cunningham is more likely to return to Blues unscathed and fit for the Premiership battle against Blackburn this weekend.
Republic of Ireland Team: Paddy Kenny, Steve Finnan, John O’Shea, Richard Dunne, Gary Breen, Liam Miller, Graham Kavanagh, Kevin Kilbane, Stephen Elliott, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff.