The fight to line up alongside Everton’s Kevin Kilbane is a straight one for Kerr between Charlton’s playmaker Matt Holland and the more robust Graham Kavanagh of Barclays Premiership newcomers Wigan.

While Holland undoubtedly has the edge in terms of experience – 45 caps to Kavanagh’s 10 – the latter brings to the table joyous enthusiasm and confidence following Wigan’s ascent to the top flight.

“We have a good squad and we will probably end up using it over the two games,” assessed Kerr, with Ireland also due to face the Faroe Islands in Torshavn on Wednesday.

“It is such a fine line between so many of the players in the squad now. Each decision is hard, but I am watching training really closely.

“I watched our warm-up match against Celtic on Sunday very closely as well, and I have since watched it again on video.

“I am looking at how right people are – or aren’t – but I have to say training has been good because there has been a great buzz, a vigour, an intensity, a desire, a competence, a passion about people to want to do well. There has been no holding back.”

That could not be more important as Ireland look for the six points that will see them head into the summer break as group leaders and clear favourites to reach the finals in Germany next summer.

Yet Israel cannot be underestimated as they are unbeaten after six matches and have the psychological edge after scoring an injury-time equaliser when the sides met in Tel Aviv two months ago.

Kerr came in for criticism following that game as his approach was deemed conservative after Ireland had taken a fourth-minute lead.

It is an assertion he continues to rejct, adding: “You can see we played with confidence in that game and we attacked for most of it.

“We had a lot of possession, although we did not create as many chances as we would have liked.

“But I expect us to play with the same vigour and style that has been successful for us up until now, and has been for Irish teams at home in the past.

“We must still respect Israel. The table is as it is at the moment. There are no lies in it because they have earned their points well so far.”

It is why Kerr, not for the first time, is urging patience from an expectant support who have become used to seeing their side emerge victorious at Lansdowne Road where the Republic have lost just one competitive match in the last 10 years.

“I hope the crowd are patient because it may take a long time to get the breakthrough we want,” insisted Kerr.

“I think the crowd have been very good in the past and if they had any doubts about the threat Israel pose, they will have been dispelled by the performances in their last couple of games.

“I think the Irish public will respect the Israelis. I am sure they will have looked at the table and appreciate if they have not lost a match so far out of six, then they are not going to be easily beaten in this one.”

Kerr has revealed they are continuing to monitor the situation regarding Steve Finnan, who on Wednesday returned to Liverpool for treatment on the thigh injury sustained in last week’s Champions League final victory over AC Milan.

Finnan “remains extremely doubtful” according to Kerr, although no final decision will be made on his availability until today at the earliest.

Norwich defender Gary Doherty, meanwhile, yesterday underwent an MRI scan on the knee he tweaked during training on Wednesday.

Kerr added: “It showed no significant injury or damage to his knee ligaments. We are hopeful he will be fit to be considered for selection for tomorrow.”