Femi John Atoyebi: What an early opener for Ireland! I sense a mauling of Georgia.

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Shane Duffy's confidence is at an all-time high, he casually chests a cross down to keeper Darren Randolph to gather.

The Republic are sitting back and letting Georgia come at them after that goal. But the visitors are looking solid at the back.

Georgi Makaridze is getting treatment after being clattered by Shane Duffy and Ciaran Clark in that goal. A sub keeper is warming up in case he's needed.

Makaridze is OK to continue. Not sure if that's good or bad for the hosts based on the only bit of goalkeeping he's had to do so far.

An early attack for the hosts but Jaba Jigauri is just unable to get his head onto a left-wing cross.

We are under way at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena. Six of the Republic team are one booking away from missing the Serbia match.

National anthems time. It's almost time for kick-off in Tbilisi,

You'd have to go back to Euro 88 qualifying for the last time the Republic of Ireland won a qualifying group.

Since then they have qualified for five tournaments, two when second place got you a slot and three times via the play-offs.

Tuesday's home game against Serbia could end up being one of their most important qualifiers of recent years.

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The Republic are unbeaten in their last seven World Cup qualifiers, dating back to October 2013 (W4 D3).

They are also unbeaten in their last four competitive away games, winning the last two (D2).

James McClean has scored three of their last four goals in 2018 World Cup qualifying, with Jon Walters netting the other.

Georgia are winless in their last 13 World Cup qualifiers (D5 L8), since a 1-0 victory over Belarus back in September 2012.

The Republic of Ireland have met Georgia eight times since 2003, winning all eight. This is the second qualifier in a row where the sides have been grouped together.

In Euro 2016 qualifying, Aiden McGeady scored a 90th-minute winner in Tbilisi, before Jon Walters scored the only goal in Dublin.

The Republic also won 1-0 at home in this campaign, Seamus Coleman scoring the only goal in October's meeting.

They also met in a 2013 friendly, with the Irish winning 4-0.

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Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill thinks Georgia, ranked 112th in the world, are "underrated".

"I think they are technically very skillful. They caused us problems at the Aviva.

"In the competitive games we’ve played them, it’s been tough.

"There’ll be a few twists and turns up until the 10th game in qualifying. Sometimes you start to think other teams will win all their matches which isn’t the case. It’s tight."

How do you see Group D ending up? Can the Republic top the group to qualify for Russia? Can Wales overhaul a four-point gap to end up in the play-offs?

Let us know using #bbcfootball on Twitter.

Jon Walters is fit after an ankle injury and wins his 50th Republic of Ireland cap. Shane Long starts up front, despite not starting a game for Southampton this season. Wes Hoolahan is only a substitute.

Republic of Ireland: Randolph, Christie, Clark, Duffy, Ward, Whelan, Arter, Walters, Brady, McClean, Long. Subs: Westwood, Elliot, O'Shea, Keogh, McGeady, Murphy, O'Dowda, K. Long, Hoolahan, Hourihane, Meyler, Hayes.

Georgia: Makaridze, Kakabadze, Kverkvelia, Kashia, Navalovski, Kvekveskiri, Gvilia, Jigauri, Ananidze, Qazaishvili, Kvilitaia. Subs: Lobzhanidze, Khotcholava, Daushvili, Dvalishvili, Chanturia, Sikharulidze, Shergelashvili, Merebashvili, Arabidze, Aburjania, Kvaskhvadze.

This is how Group D looks. Leaders Serbia and the Republic of Ireland are both in action in a few minutes, with Wales meeting Austria later. Both sides there really need a win to stay in the mix.

The group winners qualify for the World Cup, while the eight best second-placed teams go into the play-offs. The runner-up with the worst record doesn't qualify for anything.

Serbia v Moldova (17:00 BST)

Georgia v Republic of Ireland (17:00 BST)

Wales v Austria (19:45 BST)

We will start building up to the Wales game the moment the Republic match finishes.

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For two countries seemingly without much in common, Georgia and the Republic of Ireland are getting to know each other very well.

This evening they face off for the fifth year in a row. Welcome to our live text coverage of this World Cup qualifying Group D game.

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