SOCCER/Republic of Ireland v Bolivia:Already running a little behind schedule, Steve Staunton swung past the team hotel's branch of a well-known coffee-shop chain on the way to yesterday morning's press conference, which he entered carrying something resembling a bucket of their finest.

It's been a long few days for the Republic of Ireland manager here in the US and he looked tired as he pondered this evening's last game before he and his players go their separate ways for the summer. The result, of course, is of little consequence but another decent performance - following the 1-1 draw with Ecuador on Wednesday night - from the nation's fringe players would provide some support for claims that the pool of talent available to him is deepening and that things are, after the horrendous start made to the season, moving in the right direction.

Having said that he would try to give everybody who has travelled a game over the course of the week, there will clearly be changes to his starting line-up but Staunton remained coy about who and how many might be replaced.

The one player he did confirm would start against Bolivia at the Gillette Stadium (Foxboro) was Nicky Colgan, the 33-year-old Barnsley goalkeeper, who will earn his ninth international cap.

Staunton said the former Chelsea player deserved the start, describing him as a "wonderful person", a tribute earned at least in part, one suspects, by Colgan's willingness to quietly accept his status as understudy not just to Shay Given but also, it seems, to the growing number of young goalkeepers who are shuffling past him on the way up the international pecking order.

Colin Doyle's emergence at Birmingham City is just the latest blow to Colgan's hopes of continuing involvement with the squad and there are a couple of others not far behind the big Corkman.

Quite what he will do in other areas of the field tonight is far from clear but Staunton obviously has it sorted out in his own mind for he cancelled training yesterday afternoon and allowed the players to spend time at the pool before, he said, doing some exercises that would help them cope with the heat. Kevin Kilbane and Kevin Doyle, Staunton insisted, are both fit to start and the Wigan midfielder will captain the side again. Little else is certain but Doyle seems likely to start again even if a lingering hamstring problem will probably prompt his early replacement again, while Stephen Hunt could hardly be relegated to the bench.

If strong performances in the first game count for anything then Aston Villa defender Stephen O'Halloran should retain his place, although the 19-year-old may be tried at centre back with Peter Murphy one of several alternatives at left back.

Darren Potter also staked a strong claim for another start, as did Daryl Murphy, the young Sunderland striker whose fine inswinging cross set up Doyle for the goal.

In midfield, Joe Gamble could be in line for a first international start but Staunton has a number of options, with Alan O'Brien, whom he clearly likes, possibly coming in on the left and Hunt switching to the other side. Andy Keogh and Anthony Stokes may also be favoured, with the Irish likely to pursue the same sort of attacking game plan that worked well for them at the Giants Stadium.

Staunton reckons the Bolivians will present a sterner test of his young side on the basis that they are a more experienced side than the Ecuadorian one faced in the New Jersey. Their win a couple of months ago in South Africa would suggest some improvement on the last World Cup qualification campaign, which was littered with disappointing results before Brazil were held in La Paz.

Having beaten Ireland on each of the two occasions the two nations have played they will be optimistic about maintaining their progress but if Staunton's men can cope with the heat and generate anything like the levels of vigour displayed in their first outing of the week then another result shouldn't be entirely beyond them.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (possible): Colgan (Barnsley); Kelly (Birmingham City), Bennett (Reading), O'Halloran (Aston Villa), P Murphy (Carlisle United); Hunt (Reading), Potter (Wolves), Kilbane (Wigan Athletic), O'Brien (Newcastle United); D Murphy (Sunderland), Doyle (Reading).

Venue: Gillette Stadium, Boston, Saturday

Kick-off: 9pm (Irish time)