Upbeat Bohemians may rattle Gent

Intertoto Cup preview: Eight years after leading Belgium to the World Cup finals at the Republic of Ireland's expense, Georges Leekens returns to Dublin this evening in the hope of steering KAA Gent past Bohemians and into the second round of the Intertoto Cup (7pm).

On paper the Belgians look to have enough quality in their side to progress but, as is often the case with teams entering at this stage of the competition, they have been back in training for just a week and come to Ireland without any of their three close-season signings.

"I hope they've been drinking a lot and having terrific holidays," joked Gareth Farrelly when asked about his team's opponents at Dalymount Park.

"Sadly, it never works like that, though. They've only had two or three weeks off, which is the least anybody needs, so I'm not so sure that fitness is really going to be a huge issue."

Irish teams have, nevertheless, prospered against decent looking European clubs in this competition in recent seasons and, after some tough times financially during the past year, everybody at Bohemians will be keen to move a step closer to a potentially lucrative third-round encounter with Spanish giants Valencia.

"This is all a new challenge to me," says Farrelly, who, in stark contrast to the vastly experienced Leekens, will get his first taste of European club football this evening.

"It's a bit of an adventure and of course we want to win but I've discovered over the last few months that there are expectations ahead of every game at Bohemians and this will be no different."

After a difficult start in the league, the Dubliners have improved in recent weeks and have yet to lose while their player-manager has been in the side this season.

The team have scored a couple of goals a game in their last five outings and the aim will be to maintain the momentum against the Belgians.

For Farrelly's central midfield partner, Kevin Hunt, this game is another opportunity for the club to move forward after a difficult period in which many of the championship-winning side of 2002 have moved on.

"I think when you're losing players like that you'd have to admit that you are moving backward," says Hunt.

"But we still feel that we have a decent team here and if we can keep most of the lads fit and free of suspension between now and the end of the season then we're capable of challenging for the title. If not then we might struggle a bit again."