Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given told setanta.com that his team now believes that they can pick up key results.
Ireland held Bulgaria to a 1-1 draw in Sofia on Saturday evening to stay one point behind Group 8 leaders Italy and in a great position of qualifying for next summer's World Cup.
Having picked up points away from home against both Italy and Bulgaria in their last two qualifiers, Given thinks that the team have a far greater level of confidence.
If they beat Cyprus away in September, then they would put massive pressure on Italy for that top spot and that is the ultimate aim for Ireland right now.
"We're not fully there yet. We still have some big games coming up, but I think this team will prove how good they are when we qualify - if we qualify," Given told setanta.com.
"There are big games still to come, but we are doing okay so far. The gaffer [Giovanni Trapattoni] has got great belief in the players that we have and that rubs off on the players.
"It shows they high the confidence levels are that we can come to somewhere like Sofia and pick up the kind of result that we have.
"I suppose we have more belief in the squad than we had a couple of years ago."
The experienced shot-stopper has already switched his focus towards that game against Cyprus as he reckons it could be a crucial fixture in helping to decide the group.
"It has always been a tricky game for us, both home and away," stated Given.
"If we play like we did tonight [against Bulgaria] with the confidence and belief that we showed in the first half an hour, then we should go there and hopefully win the game."