With skipper Robbie Keane seemingly assured of his shirt, Cox is competing with Kevin Doyle, Shane Long and Jon Walters for the right to partner the LA Galaxy man in attack.

Having scored in Tuesday night's 5-0 victory over a Tuscan Select XI, he is hoping for a further taste of the action in Budapest.

Cox said: "I just want to get some game-time, that's it. I want to show what I can do.

"Hopefully by doing what I did the other day. Scoring goals and putting in decent performances, that's how I show what I can do."

Cox started alongside Keane in Pistoia in midweek and scored the second of the three goals the pair claimed between them in the first half.

But both Long and Walters also registered in the second half while Doyle, who was rested from that game, has been Trapattoni's preferred partner for Keane for much of the last two qualifying campaigns and has lined up alongside him in training-ground matches on each of the last two days.

The 23-man party leaves Montecatini for Hungary tomorrow and with their opening game now just eight days away, excitement levels are rising.

Group C rivals Italy have endured a difficult week on and off the pitch and while Ireland know they, Spain and the Croatians will provide stern opposition, hopes remain high that they can reach the quarter-finals.

Cox said: "We can't wait to get started. This is what we all want to do and these are the competitions you want to play in.

"We have a good tight unit, so I don't see why we can't prove a lot of people wrong who are doubting us at the minute."

Competition for places will be fierce throughout the squad, not just up front, and with Trapattoni's injury problems gradually subsiding there has been a marked increase in the intensity of training in recent days.

Cox said: "All 23 are fit and healthy, which gives the manager headaches for selection come the games we have in front of us."