Roddy Collins' relations with Kaiserslautern coach Otto Rehhagel briefly hung by a thread when the pair met at Tolka Park yesterday.
The Dubliner became agitated when laughter erupted after one of Rehhagel's comments to the German press and demanded an immediate translation. In fact the Kaiserslautern coach had said Tolka was so small that this afternoon's game would feel as though it was being played in a "living room". Collins immediately lightened up. The joke, it seemed, was on Shelbourne.
Kaiserslautern have several players missing - Danish international Michael Schjonberg, Czech international Petr Gabriel (both injured) and the recent arrived Polish international Tomas Klos (ineligible). Amongst those to have made the journey are three players to have seen action in Euro 2000 - Czech striker Vratislav Lokvenc, Frenchman Youri Djorkaeff and Sweden's Jorgen Pettersson, although the Scandinavian is not expected to start.
Collins, meanwhile, says former Republic of Ireland international, Liam O'Brien, will have a key role to play in the game with the home side's plan amounting to "stop them, contain them, get a set piece and nick a goal".
Collins' options are limited as he has to plan without Mark Dempsey, Rob Bowman, Tony Hopper and Darren O'Keeffe who are all unavailable.
Confidence within the team can scarcely be helped by the fact that the club were so quick to switch the order of the ties for fear of an away defeat and thereby rendering the second-leg television rights almost worthless.
Bohemians (possible): Russell; O'Connor, Maher, Hill, Webb; Caffrey, Hunt, O'Brien, Morrison; Crowe, Molloy.
Kaiserslautern (possible): Koch; Koch, Ramzy, Roos; Basler, Komljenovic, Hristov, Grammozis, Strasser; Djorkaeff, Lokvenc.
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