Albion defender Ivar Ingimarsson is relishing the prospect of his fifth match in a fortnight, this time on the international stage.

He teamed up with the Iceland squad at Heathrow yesterday lunchtime in preparation for Saturday's crucial European Championship qualifier against Scotland at Hampden Park.

Ingimarsson's Albion colleagues, with the exception of fellow international Graham Barrett, will enjoy a well deserved weekend off from the relegation dogfight, but the busy on-loan Wolves player is thrilled to be representing his nation again.

"I'm fine," he said. "I'm fit and used to playing games quite constantly here in England, so it's no problem. I will have a good rest for two or three days and be up for it on Saturday.

"It's massive for every player to play for their country. It gives you a lot of pride.

"I want to represent my country as often as I can and I am delighted to have another chance hopefully now.

"We need a result. We have played two games in qualifying. We lost at home to Scotland first 2-0, but we won in Lithuania 3-0 and Scotland have dropped points to the Faroe Islands.

"Germany are in the group as well, so it's likely they will go through. We are looking at the second place and I think we have a fair chance, just like the rest of the teams in the group."

Ingimarsson could find himself up against a couple of his Molineux team-mates.

"Both Kenny Miller and Colin Cameron are in the Scotland squad, so I'm pleased for them," he said. "It would be good to play against them and hopefully get a good result.

"Against Scotland I played in midfield and against Lithuania centre half, so who knows? It doesn't bother me as long as I am in the first eleven."

Ingimarsson was used in midfield by Wolves earlier in the season, but Albion boss Steve Coppell has employed him to great effect at the heart of the defence.

That is where the unflappable 25-year-old played under Coppell last season as an ever-present member of the Brentford side which reached the Division Two play-off final.

Ingimarsson's second month on loan expires with the home sell-out against Preston on April 12.

He hopes to remain on the south coast for the remainder of the relegation battle and refuses to look beyond that.

"As things are at the moment it looks more likely than not I will be here for the rest of the season," he revealed.

"I am very happy to be here playing first team football and I like it down here, so if they don't need me up at Wolves then I want to be playing.

"I don't look at my future beyond that. I have another year left on my contract there and I just have to wait and see what the future holds in the summer.

"Steve Coppell is a very good manager and one of the reasons for me coming down was because he is here. I enjoy working with him, but there is no point speculating about the future.

"I don't know what is happening. At the moment I am just taking one game at a time."

Ingimarsson is playing a leading part in Albion's survival bid. Tuesday's 0-0 draw against arch rivals Crystal Palace at Withdean was the fifth clean sheet in nine matches since he arrived.

He is optimistic about the Seagulls' chances of escaping. "We are definitely in the fight and I think it is going to be a fight for the rest of the season, but we are well equipped for the challenge."

Meanwhile, Barrett's promotion from the Republic of Ireland under 21's to the full squad coincided with his lively first start for six matches against Palace.

He joined Brian Kerr's senior party in Dublin yesterday for the qualifying games against Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday and Albania in Tirana next Wednesday.

Barrett, a member of Kerr's under 16's squad which won the European Championships five years ago, has been called up because of injuries to Fulham's Steve Finnan and Millwall's Steve Reid.

The striker on loan from Arsenal scored on his only previous senior appearance for his country against Finland in August 2002.

Barrett's involvement means he will not be reunited with Albion until the day of their next match at Reading on April 4.

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Alan Quinn had already been included in Kerr's squad, so he misses the rock-bottom Owls' must-win home fixture against Watford on Saturday.