<text>  For those who witnessed Irelands approach to playing Scotland at Celtic Park in November at close quarters, suggestions that they are a robust and direct unit scarcely seem tantamount to slander. Martin ONeills side may not quite have mirrored the ultra-industrial style favoured by Jack Charltons men all those years ago, yet there were precious few morsels of real quality for the games purists to feast on. Were Poland then, doing any more than stating the blindingly obvious this week when they spoke extensively of Irelands one-dimensional, strong-arm strategy in their qualifying games thus far? Aiden McGeady celebrates scoring for Republic of Ireland against Georgia . You wouldnt have thought so but, then again, Martin ONeill, whose Ireland side entertain the Poles in Dublin, has never been one to resist an ever-so diplomatic counter-swipe at such accusations. Clearly keen to gain the slightest psychological edge ahead of what is being viewed as a must win game for the Republic, the former Celtic manager bristled when word of the Poles comments was relayed to him at their Malahide base on Friday. Im not really bothered about what they say genuinely not bothered, ONeill insisted. Im not so sure they could glean that from the games we have played. Its not for me to retort but Poland are as physical a side as I have seen in some time. Ouch. Adam Nawalkas side are a pretty accomplished one, too, however. Currently sitting on top of Group D, Ireland will surely need snookers to catch them if they leave the Aviva Stadium with another maximum return of points. Having won in Georgia and pinched a point in Germany, Irelands campaign hit the buffers with defeat in Glasgow in their last competitive outing. In a section with next to no margin for error, ONeills side badly need to begin a sequence of four home games from five with a win. In that regard, a degree of calculated risk taking is in order. Aiden McGeadys downturn in form has seen him excluded from Roberto Martinezs Everton side since January 31 but while far from ideal - his international manager sees that as no barrier to inclusion. McGeadys downturn in form at Everton should not affect his Ireland position . You can get away on a bit of adrenaline if you are reasonably fit and I think hes been fit for a number of weeks. He just hasnt played for Everton in that time, said ONeill, who handed the player his Celtic debut 11 years ago. Adrenaline can carry you a certain distance. You wouldnt want to be going into a game with say three or four players not having played that much football. That may happen but you know that as some stage these players are going to tire a bit. But it is what it is. Its a disappointment from this side but Im not in charge of their club commitments. Listen, it would be absolutely fantastic if players were coming in here on the back of having played games the last couple of weekends. You always sense its never going to be that way. I was involved as a player at Northern Ireland and we had players coming in who hadnt played much at club level but suddenly they got a lift from playing international football. Thats what Id be hoping for. If ONeill is bemused by McGeadys exclusion at club level, he made a fine job of hiding it. Thats entirely up to Everton, he straight-batted. If I was to make that judgment on every single player at club level, I might be listening to the wrong comments. Roberto Martinez is absolutely entitled to pick whoever he wants to at club level. If he doesnt think that Aiden is playing well enough to be picked for his team, thats entirely up to him. Republic of Ireland coach Roy Keane shares a joke with McGeady during training session . Weve a different aspect here. He is obviously very important for us. Hed a great start against Georgia, continued that on although he may have been a little disappointed in how he played against Scotland. Overall, he is important to us. I think just the change of environment might just give him that lift. Im hopeful. Hell be a bit disappointed that hes not in the Everton starting side. But he s here, he knows what hes done for us in the recent past and that should give him a lift. McGeady might well be facing a familiar figure in the Polish goal. Artur Boruc, also formerly employed in Glasgows East End, is being tipped to win his 60th cap here after Wojciech Szczesnys recent relegation to the Arsenal bench. Its some years ago but in his spell at Celtic he was one of the top five goalkeepers in European football, said ONeill, who left Parkhead in 2005 just as Boruc was coming in. Of course, theres some water under the bridge since then and hes now down at Bournemouth. But he was a fine goalkeeper before and if the manager is thinking of picking him, he must have great faith in him at the moment. Self-confidence among the Poles is scarcely at a premium. Still unbeaten in the qualifiers, their only blemish so far came in the 2-2 draw with Scotland in Warsaw. ONeill knows from bitter experience in Glasgow how the entire dynamic of the section can turn in an instant. His warning then, not to gift the likes of Robert Lewandowski a prized victory hardly needs to be overstated. Were 75 minutes into the game and our concentration faded, ONeill recalled of Shaun Maloneys winning goal from a set-piece. I know as you get tired in a match your concentration goes a little bit, but that really shouldnt happen. I think Polands approach will be a pretty positive, as suggested by the results they have got. In the game against Germany there were moments in the match where I would say fortune broke for them at the time. But they have earned that and they have put up points on the board. Their second-half performance against Georgia in Georgia was particularly strong. Im expecting a big, big game. But this is the first match of a run where we have four out of five at home and it is up to us to do something about it. 