NIKOS DABIZAS is hoping to maintain his hold over Emile Heskey when they square up for a rapid rematch in England's World Cup qualifying decider against Greece on Saturday.

Newcastle centre-back Dabizas is the linchpin in a Greek defence which must attempt to contain the pace and power of England striker Heskey in the Group Nine clash at Old Trafford.

But Dabizas has good reason to be undaunted by the prospect of another confrontation with the Liverpool frontman.

Although the Reds emerged 2-0 winners from Sunday's visit to Newcastle, the game marked the fifth occasion that former Leicester forward Heskey had failed to score in opposition to Dabizas at club level.

Dabizas has endured a torrid time at the hands of Michael Owen, but with the Liverpool striker ruled out of Sven-Goran Erikkson's England plans through injury, Heskey is tipped to form a frontline partnership with clubmate Robbie Fowler.

"I have always done well against Emile, even when I have played for Greece against him,'' boasted Dabizas.

"But I know he is a very good player and I will have to watch him very closely.

"I believe that he has become a better player since he moved to Liverpool because he has better players around him.''

Dabizas' defensive partner, Andy O'Brien, is also on World Cup duty with the Republic of Ireland for Saturday's Group Two visit of Cyprus.

O'Brien said: "I thought Nikos and I coped quite well with Robbie Fowler and Emile Heskey on Sunday.''

But O'Brien warned that the Liverpool setback will test Newcastle's resilience and resolve.

The Magpies' next outing is at Barnsley a week tonight in the third round of the Worthington Cup.

"How we perform overall this season will depend on how we react to the disappointment of defeat,'' said O'Brien, who joined Newcastle from Bradford City last season in a deal ultimately worth £2m.

"We reacted well after losing at West Ham the other week by hitting back to beat Leicester and we have to do the same at Barnsley.

"We have to learn how to pick ourselves up and put ourselves back in the right frame of mind.

"It was easier after West Ham because the Leicester game was at home and it came around so quickly.

"It's important we don't dwell on the Liverpool defeat for the next week.

"It's easy to be positive when things are going well, but we'll find out about our character when everyone gets back from the internationals.

"Staying positive after a game like Sunday's is difficult.''

But O'Brien has been heartened by Newcastle's early-season form, the highlight of which was the 4-3 home triumph over champions Manchester United.

He said: "We've seen Man. United at first hand and now Liverpool, and there's not much to choose between them.

"But I think Newcastle are catching up fast and there won't be too many sides who beat Man. United and create the chances we did against that Liverpool defence.''

O'Brien hailed the return to fitness of midfielder Gary Speed, who is due to link up with Wales for their World Cup game against Belarus in Cardiff.

Speed appeared as a second-half substitute against Liverpool after five weeks out with a recurrence of hamstring trouble.

"It was great to see Gary back,'' said O'Brien. "He's been at Newcastle for a long time and it's all credit to him that he's recovered from his injury so quickly.

"It helps the younger lads to have him back in the squad because you can't buy the kind of experience he has.''

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