Republic of Ireland defender Kevin Kilbane is determined not to allow Cyprus to ruin his qualification dreams once again.

Kilbane and his team-mates face another tricky away trip to meet a nation which has proved something of a nemesis in the recent past on September 5 with their hopes of reaching next year's World Cup finals in South Africa at stake.

"We have got to play Italy, we have got to play Montenegro at home, but first and foremost, we have got to concentrate on the Cyprus game because we have slipped up too often there in the past," said Kilbane.

Ireland did their chances of finishing at least second in Group Eight little harm with a hard-fought draw in Bulgaria on Saturday evening as they closed to within a point of leaders and reigning champions Italy and maintained a five-point lead over the third-placed Bulgarians, with both having a game in hand on Giovanni Trapattoni's men.

However, there is a belief within the squad that they will have to win in Cyprus if they are to get above Italy, who visit Croke Park in October, and win the group.

That will be easier said than done, and Kilbane certainly does not need reminding of the 5-2 defeat in Nicosia which blew a hole in the Republic's attempts to qualify for Euro 2008.

Asked if he is starting to get excited, he said: "No, definitely not. We have got a lot of football to play.

"We have to win and certainly, we will go out to win in Cyprus now. It is a big, big game for us."