Republic of Ireland skipper John O'Shea believes the team will need a positive result in one of their remaining games against Germany and Poland to secure a play-off spot for Euro2016.

Ireland currently sit third, ahead of Scotland by four points, with a couple of games remaining for every team in Group D and need to avoid losses to both the Poles and the Germans in October in order to maintain their current position.

"We know we're going to have to get a result against Germany or Poland," Sunderland defender O'Shea said.

"It's going to be the case like that. We've done what we have to do and see how people get game time back at their clubs so they can keep giving the manager here something difficult to think about.

"Hopefully the boys will be coming back fitter too, obviously Germany will be well into play and we'll see what we have to do. If we can keep everyone fit for those two games it's very important because everything is going to be put on the line for those two games."