O'Neill wary of major upset

Champions League: Martin O'Neill feels that the tragic death of Kaunas striker Audrius Slekys could provide an emotional spur for the Lithuanians to cause a Champions League upset tonight.

The Parkhead side are expected to comfortably sweep them aside and also beat the victors of MTK Hungaria and HJK Helsinki in the final qualifying round to book their place in the money-spinning group stages.

But the impact Slekys's death in a car accident on Sunday and his funeral earlier yesterday could have on his team-mates was causing O'Neill some concern as he considered whether the game should have been postponed.

O'Neill said: "I would have thought that his team-mates would take more than a day to get over it. Maybe it would have been a problem arranging it, but my own view is that it would spur them on."

Celtic striker Henrik Larsson is also surprised that the game has gone ahead as planned. "It must be awful for the players and the staff here and I'm a little surprised that it wasn't actually called off," he said.

Celtic captain Paul Lambert offered his condolences to Slekys's family and the club.

"It's really tragic," said Lambert. "I never knew what had happened until yesterday, but for this to happen is just tragic.

O'Neill has injury worries with Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren fighting to be fit.

He is already without defensive giant Bobo Balde and he is keeping his fingers crossed that he will have an experienced back line available.

"I hope Joos and Johan are back after missing last week's second game against Boca Juniors," said O'Neill.

"They will do a bit of training and I'll see how they are. Obviously with Bobo suspended I wouldn't want the pair of them to be missing."

O'Neill has done his homework on their opponents - but is also nervous that his players will be caught off guard before their domestic campaign kicks off.

They comfortably beat Lithuanian side Suduva at tonight's venue - the St Dariaus and St Gireno Stadium - on route to the final of the UEFA Cup last season, but Kaunas are already into their domestic season.

"It's still the pre-season and we have a game like this so early so we have to try and start straight away in the match," added O'Neill.

"I know them well and I've watched them. I don't want to leave anything to chance because this is so important for us."