Darren O'Dea has been given permission to miss Republic of Ireland's friendly with Oman next Friday.
The Toronto FC defender will line-up for the Reds in their league match against Chicago Fire whilst his Irish teammates take on the Omanis.
O'Dea is likely to suit up for Giovanni Trapattoni's side when they meet Kazakhstan in their opening Group C World Cup qualifier in Astana on Friday but says he would rather play a club game and help Toronto out of the mire than the friendly next week.
"You don't want to be going petering out in the season where you're just going through the motions of playing games," O'Dea said.
"You want to be playing for something. We're still playing for something in the league because we don't want to be where we are (bottom of Eastern Conference table).
"There is a game conflicting with the Chicago game at home but it's only a friendly, so I spoke to them and they have no problem with me getting back so I'll not miss that game which I thought I might.
"I'll play in Kazakhstan and get back to London and then fly straight here. I want to be playing here and helping the team."
