BLACKBURN wing-wizard Damien Duff is hoping to ignite his international career by playing a starring role in the Republic of Ireland's crunch qualifier with Estonia tonight.

The jet-heeled wide-man's super show against Portugal on Saturday has pushed him into the reckoning for a starting role in Tallinn.

And, if he gets the nod off manager Mick McCarthy, then the 22-year-old Rovers star is ready to provide the necessary fireworks needed to establish himself on the international stage.

"I don't think anyone has seen the best of me yet at international level because it's a totally different ball game to playing at club level," said Duff.

"I'm more uptight when I play for Ireland, whereas when I'm playing with Rovers, I'm far more relaxed.

"But I've been working my backside off in training and if I wasn't good enough to play at this level then I wouldn't be here.

"So, whether I start or not, I'm just glad to be here because it's always an honour to play for your country."

Duff appeared as a second half substitute for Robbie Keane on Saturday at Lansdowne Road and his dramatic performance as an out-and-out striker transformed the game for Mick McCarthy's team who took the lead soon afterwards before finally settling for a 1-1 draw.

So, with Keane and Niall Quinn both struggling for match fitness, McCarthy is toying with the idea of playing Duff from the start tonight in a game the Republic must win to keep alive their hopes of winning Group Two.

"Duffer put a real marker down for himself in training all last week and certainly did himself no harm with his performance on Saturday," said McCarthy.

"He had an amazing impact coming on as a sub and whether that can be the same

from the start, who knows?

"But he was unlucky not to start against Portugal, he had been flying in training all week.

"The only thing was Kevin Kilbane has been a star for me and I wanted to keep him on the wing.

"I just thought that when I needed some legs, something different, he provided it.

"He made a huge change."

Whether Duff gets the vote or not, the flying wingman insists tonight's match is a must-win game.

McCarthy's men might top the table going into the clash but Group Two heavyweights Holland and Portugal are both breathing down their necks as the battle to make next summer's World Cup finals hots up.

"I said before we played Portugal that we needed at least four points from our next two games," said Duff.

"So now we've drawn the first, it's vital we win the second.

"Estonia might not be one of the more fancied nations but there are no easy games in international football these days.

"So we're going to have to concentrate if we want to come away with the right result."