D-Day for Ireland hopefuls as Vera Pauw prepares to name World Cup squad

Vera Pauw will reveal her 23-player Republic of Ireland squad for the World Cup tomorrow as prep for the country's first ever FIFA Women's World Cup appearance enters its final stages.

The task of "making and breaking dreams", as Pauw puts it, was always going to be a difficult one - though the arrival of new faces over the last five months has made the manager's job even harder.

In the wake of Ireland's play-off victory over Scotland, Pauw received messages from several players informing her of their Irish eligibility. She insisted that anyone coming in must already have an Irish passport and "be better than what we have".

This year, five players born outside of Ireland have been given debuts: Aoife Mannion, Deborah Anne De La Harpe, Marissa Sheva, goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse and Sinead Farrelly.

Sydney-born full-back De La Harpe started February's goalless draw against China and hasn't been seen since; while the well-travelled Whitehouse is fourth choice goalkeeper behind Courtney Brosnan, Grace Moloney and Megan Walsh.

However, Mannion [as long as she's fit], Sheva and Farrelly are all expected to make the plane.

Manchester United centre-half Mannion had a brace removed from her knee on Monday having tweaked ligaments during club training last month.

She's played two games - against China and the USA - but looked so assured in both that she had been tipped to start in the World Cup group opener against Australia on 20 July. Pauw is such a big fan that Mannion may travel even if she is not 100%.

Farrelly's impact has been even more emphatic. Her selection for April's friendly against the USA was a major surprise, given that she'd only just returned to the game following an eight-year absence.

She's played just 60 minutes of