I'll be honest. Once I saw Ireland's Euro 2016 group, my gut reaction was that the draw had thrown up the worst-case scenario. Scanning the other available options confirmed that for me.

After all the talk about the increase to 24 teams and an easier route, it looks as though we're in for the kind of battle we face in every campaign.

Tough as it is, at least it gives Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane a clear focus in terms of planning their diary. With big games away to Georgia, Germany and Scotland before the end of the year, they have to view each friendly through a window of who might be suitable for those challenges.

And when I sat down to look at the squad for tonight's game with Serbia, my overwhelming feeling was that Ireland are still going to need the absent Richard Dunne and Robbie Keane for September.

I don't mean to be negative about the options available to Martin for this fixture. While Robbie's position seems secure – he remains our most reliable goalscorer – there has been a bit of a debate about Richard given the fact he's 35 in September and, more importantly, he's only on a one-year deal at QPR, so he could face a big summer depending on what happens there. But for me, if he's fit, he is still first choice alongside John O'Shea.

Martin seems to rate Marc Wilson as a centre-half and he is getting a bit of experience there at Stoke, but I'd prefer him at left-back given the alternatives, especially as he can give us a balance with Seamus Coleman in the other full-back role.

There's little doubt that Seamus, who has developed into a really top-class player (and should be vying for right back in the PFA Team of the Year with his opponent tonight, Branislav Ivanovic) will be one of our key attacking threats in the next two years.

It's just about setting the team up in a way that allows him that licence to get forward. I look at Chelsea this season as an example.

Their back four is one of the tightest in the league but Jose Mourinho gives Ivanovic a bit of freedom whereas their left-full, Cesar Azpilicueta, rarely leaves John Terry's side; the solidity of that back three rooted together is necessary for Ivanovic to affect the match going forward. With Ireland, I think Wilson has the attributes to play the Azpilicueta role.

That's just one of the reasons I'd stick with Richard. The other obvious ones are his power, experience and personality, especially when you assess a game like the Scotland tie, which is effectively going to be like a Premier League derby with a real spice.

Damien Delaney is very unlucky to lose out through injury. Since Tony Pulis came in at Crystal Palace, he has been outstanding. We went down there with West Brom and were well beaten, and Damien was a stand-out.

In midfield, it's obvious that James McCarthy will be the fulcrum. He has grown this season at Everton and made that position his own.

The real question for me is how Martin sets up his midfield as a whole. Perhaps with Seamus raiding down the right flank, he might enter certain games with a right winger operating narrow and an out-and-out winger on the left.

I read that Martin wants to take the game to Serbia, realising that perhaps the Aviva Stadium has been too welcoming to opposition teams.

I'd partly attribute that to the superior facilities compared to the old, decrepit Lansdowne Road which used to take our visitors by surprise. They couldn't get their head around it and we made them uncomfortable. We always had a confidence that we wouldn't lose there, whereas that aura appears to be gone now.

If we are to adopt a positive approach, the wingers can set the tone and Aiden McGeady is the natural instigator.

I was delighted that Aiden got his move from Russia, although I did kick him a couple of times when he came on for Everton in the final 10 minutes against us at the Hawthorns.

That's the key with marking Aiden – you don't let him turn and take a run at you so I had to make a challenge before he could do that.

He has not started as many as he would have liked at Everton; Steven Pienaar and Leighton Baines have built up an understanding on the left and Kevin Mirallas has been excellent this season so there's no clear opening for him there for the moment.

He's nailed-on to be a part of Martin's plans though, and this should be a good examination.

Full-backs don't come much better than Ivanovic and Aleksandar Kolarov and whatever side Aiden is selected on, he'll be encountering a really tough operator. Ivanovic is strong as an ox, and Kolarov is quick and has done well to fend off the challenge of Gael Clichy at Man City.

Shane Long is liable to give them something to think about if he drifts wide from his forward berth.

The move to Hull seems to have given him a lift and he's one of the few Irish lads with genuine pace. I watched him burn Kyle Walker when they played Spurs and that just emphasised how quick he really is.

We'll miss Robbie's cleverness, though, and, while Wes Hoolahan was dangerous for Norwich when I saw them at Aston Villa last Sunday, it's a shame that Andy Reid isn't here considering he's in the best shape of his life at the moment. He's going to be involved down the line, regardless of his age, similar to Richard and Robbie.

Tonight is a chance for others to make their case and I actually think it could be a livelier match than your average friendly.

With the August date off the calendar and the summer games always hit by withdrawals and injuries, this could prove to be one of the more informative matches with a view to making plans for the challenging road that lies ahead.