Temuri Ketsbaia expecting "very tough" Republic of Ireland test

Georgia manager Temuri Ketsbaia has acknowledged that his side will face a "very tough" test when they take on the Republic of Ireland in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday.

Ketsbaia will be looking to begin his side's qualifying campaign with a victory in Tbilisi tomorrow night, and he is hoping that his four-year stay in British football as a player may help his side.

However, the 46-year-old is under no illusions about how tough Ireland will be to beat, and has urged his team to be up for the battle.

"We know the way the Irish team will play. Most of the players play in the Premier League and the Championship, so we know it is going to be a very hard and very tough game because all the players ate playing at that level," Ketsbaia told reporters.

"The Premier League is very tough, but the Championship is even more difficult. I also played in the Championship and it's so difficult to play.

"It's going to be hard and we have to fight. There are battles to be won and the team which wins the battles is going to win the game."

Ketsbaia spent time with Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Dundee during his playing career.