SAM Vokes believes the momentum for securing a World Cup play-off berth is all with Wales as he prepares to give Chris Coleman the inside track on Ireland’s Burnley contingent.

While Vokes is away with Wales this week, Kevin Long, Stephen Ward, Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady are in the Ireland squad as the two countries go head-to-head in Group D.

The likelihood is Serbia will secure top spot, leaving Wales and Ireland to scrap out it for second and a potential November play-off to reach Russia 2018.

Wales are currently a point clear and travel to Georgia tonight (5pm), while Martin O’Neill’s side host Moldova in Dublin (7.45pm). Should both win then it will all come down to Monday’s clash between the two in Cardiff.

Wales climbed to second in September after two wins while the Irish stumbled, and Vokes said he had given his Clarets teammates some grief over their return of one point from games against Georgia and Serbia.

“Yes, a little bit. Obviously I was delighted,” the Burnley striker said.

“They had two tough games. The way it is set-up now is for that big one at the end but we have a big game in Georgia before that and they have a tough one.

“If it came down to that last game it’s a great one to be involved in. We are fighting for that second place and a potential play-off place.”

Asked if Wales now had the momentum Vokes added: “Yes we do. Early on in the group we dropped a few points ourselves. Draws at home when we should have won. But in the latter stage those six points have been huge for us.”

Should both Wales and Ireland get the job done tonight then it could be winner takes all on Monday at the Cardiff City Stadium.

And Vokes will be able to give Wales the inside track on several of Ireland’s stars, with the Republic stripped of their usual five-strong Clarets contingent thanks to Jon Walters knee injury.

“There’s a lot of Irish lads here,” he said. “We have a good joke with them but I am sure when it comes to it in Cardiff it will be all on the line and one both sides will be looking forward to.”

Brady will be one of Burnley’s Irish stars hoping to stop Vokes and Wales from advancing a step closer to next summer’s World Cup.

The versatile wide man is suspended for tonight’s clash with Moldova, but will return for the potentially crucial trip across the Irish Sea on Monday night.

“Everyone dreams of playing in the World Cup and we’ll be doing our utmost to get there,” Brady said.

“It will be a dream to play in a World Cup so it will be a tense game, we’ll both be looking to do our part and then we’ll see what happens in the other groups.

“We’ve got to do our part and win both games and we’ll see what happens in other games. We’ll concentrate on our part and that’s getting the two wins.”

Of the crunch clash with Wales, Brady added: “It will be a massive game, and hopefully we can get the result we need to.

“We’ve had a bit of banter (with Sam), but when it comes down to it we both know what we need to do, it’s going to be a tough game for both parties but we’ll be ready to go and hopefully we can get the result we need.”