The triple world champions last visited Dublin for a European Championship qualifier in 2007 and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger still has fond memories of the occasion.
"It is a special feeling playing there," said Schweinsteiger who is back in the squad for the first time since their Euro 2012 semi-final defeat by Italy. "The atmosphere is different, it has this special something.
"We had the joy of playing there five years ago and it is difficult to win there. It would be a huge advantage to get the three points but they are a tough team with a clever fox of a coach [Giovanni Trapattoni]," he told reporters on Tuesday.
The visitors, who had a 100 percent record in Euro 2012 qualifying with 10 victories in 10 games, want to maintain their fine run ahead of next Tuesday's clash with Sweden.
"The target is qualification and we have a lot of work to do in these two games," said team manager Oliver Bierhoff.
"These are the two toughest opponents in the group. After the last campaign when we won all 10 games, expectations are high."
"We need to improve, we need to play better both when we have possession and when we do not have the ball," said Schweinsteiger.
The Italian's chances of matching the draw Ireland managed against Germany the last time the sides met in Dublin almost five years to the day have been hit by a string of injuries.
The absentees at the back are likely to mean that former Manchester United defender John O'Shea will move to centre-half alongside Darren O'Dea who plays his club football in Canada.
"We are missing five players but I am confident about the quality we have and two or three players have grown a little bit in personality," Trapattoni said.
Ireland: Keiren Westwood, Stephen Kelly, Stephen Ward, John O'Shea, Darren O'Dea, James McCarthy, Aiden McGeady, Keith Andrews, Robbie Keane, Jon Walters, Simon Cox.
