DEAD SLO AND STOP; WORLD CUP QUALIFIER GROUP 3 SLOVENIA v N IRELAND, TOMORROW, 7.45 Davis: Away form is poor but we CANmake it right.

Byline: BY DARREN FULLERTON

HE DIDN'T scratch his head in bemusement but Steve Davis wasn't far off it when he probed Northern Ireland's recent dismal away form in qualifiers.

Read the following statistic from behind your fingers - or the nearest sofa - but the national team has won just TWICE in their last 30 competitive trips abroad.

Since November 1996, the same year the Spice Girls sang Wannabe and mobile phones were cutting edge technology, Northern Ireland have lost 19 and drawn nine times in World Cup or Euro qualifiers abroad.

Their only two wins came against lowly Liechtenstein in a Euro 2008 qualifier last year and Malta in 2001 when a David Healy penalty secured a 1-0 win for ex-boss Sammy McIlroy in a World Cup tie in Valletta.

Davis, still only 23 despite the experience of his 30 caps, was still four years away from making his international debut back in 2001.

And as he sat in the plush surroundings of the team hotel, the Rangers man laid bare his determination to change his country's World Cup record against Slovenia at the Stadion Ljudski Vrt in Maribor tomorrow night.

"Our away form in qualifiers is something I have thought about and it's something we have spoken about," said Davis. "Why has it been so poor? I honestly don't know. It is something we can't put our finger on. It's hard to explain.

"I think it's going to take us to grind out a win away from home, get a lucky deflection or the rub of the green.

"Maybe we over analyse it and maybe too much is made of it. But I do believe if we get an away win under our belts, we can go on and get a few more wins on our travels.

"I know the last World Cup qualifying win away from Windsor Park was in 2001, but an away win this weekend would boost our confidence.

"It's always disappointing when we fail to pick up wins away, especially because we take such great support abroad, but we are eager to put that right.

"Hopefully we can send the Northern Ireland fans home happy on Saturday night."

Davis, who has evolved into such an important player for his country since making his debut against Canada in 2005, is targeting six points from tomorrow's clash in Maribor and Wednesday's fixture with San Marino at Windsor Park.

Maximum points would boost Northern Ireland's chances of reaching the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and exorcise the memory of last month's 2-1 defeat in Slovakia. Nigel Worthington's men currently lie second bottom of Group Three with just one point from two games, while Slovenia are second top with four points after a 1-1 draw in Poland and 2-1 victory over the Slovaks.

"We've one point from two games, so it makes these two games against Slovenia and San Marino very important if we hope to get anywhere in the group," said Davis.

"If we hope to qualify for the World Cup, realistically we need two wins, six points. Yes, four points would be positive, but we aren't going into this game against Slovenia looking to take a point.

"Our mentality is very positive and we want a win. We want three points and we believe we can get them. "Last month's defeat in Slovakia was disappointing.

We went into that game very optimistic, but it didn't happen.

"It was a good performance against the Czechs to draw, but we know we need to start posting wins to climb the table."

Victory in the picturesque alpine surroundings of Maribor tomorrow would be the latest bright point for Davis whose fiancee Tracey gave birth to daughter Chloe three weeks ago.

His career has also witnessed a new lease of life following his permanent move to Rangers from Fulham in the summer.

"Things are very positive at the moment," he said. "Rangers is going very well, I'm enjoying my football. I also have a baby daughter now which is terrific.

It's difficult coming away so soon after the birth, but you have to do what you have to do.

"Tracey is having to cope with everything at home, but now I'm here I just want to get a good result for Northern Ireland.

"We know it's going to be tough. Slovenia are probably in a false position in the world rankings ( 73rd to Northern Ireland's 35th) and they beat Slovakia, who beat us. "We're under no illusions.

But we are capable of winning and taking three important World Cup points."

For the first time this campaign. For the first time in a long time away from home "I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE US TO GRIND OUT A WIN AWAY FROM HOME, GET A LUCKY DEFLECTION OR THE RUB OF THE GREEN"

CAPTION(S):

HOPEFUL Nigel Worthington; LEASE OF LIFE Davis at Rangers; STROLL IN THE PARK Chris Baird, Steve Davis and Chris Brunt are all smiles after one of many famous nights at Windsor