Shelbourne's manager Pat Fenlon is taking a novel approach to his side's attempt to produce an early shock in the Champions League when they face the Spanish giants Deportivo La Coruña in Dublin tonight. "We're thinking of it as an away game," he said.
His tactics have been shaped by the club's decision to move the third-round qualifying tie from their 9,000-capacity home ground of Tolka Park to Lansdowne Road to cater for the huge interest in the match.
"We know it's our home game and we will have tremendous support," Fenlon said, "but it's a venue we're not used to and we will be going out to keep it tight and make it difficult for them."
To that end Fenlon has taken a leaf out of Graeme Souness's book by having the width of the pitch reduced. Before a European Cup tie with Dynamo Kiev in 1987 the then Rangers manager was so concerned with the potential dangers of the Ukrainian team's wide men he had the Ibrox pitch altered. The Scottish side duly reversed a one-goal deficit from the first leg to win 2-0.
Shelbourne's decision has been justified by the public's response with all 24,000 tickets sold in a matter of days. They still hope to make more tickets available should Uefa allow them to also sell terrace tickets, though the club president Finbar Flood conceded time is running out for them to be granted that wish.
And, while the club have been capitalising off the pitch, Fenlon is determined to ensure that on the pitch matters are equally satisfying for Shelbourne.
Fearing Deportivo's speed and wingers, Fenlon has narrowed the pitch to the minimum width, 64 metres - the same width as the Tolka Park - for the match.
However, he insisted that keeping the Spaniards in check was the least of their ambitions. "With the players we have we are confident that we can also score against them.
"Like every team, we've watched the videos and have identified some areas in which we can take advantage of their weaknesses."
With no injury worries, Fenlon is likely to keep an unchanged side for the game, meaning the Ireland striker Jason Byrne will again be asked to play on the right side of midfield while the Cameroon World Cup player Joseph Ndo is likely to start on the bench.
"Joseph is flying in training but he hasn't played a full game in a while and I think he would be better coming off the bench when the game slows down," said Fenlon.
"The team we'll start with will be similar to what we've used over the last few weeks."
The Deportivo La Coruña coach Javier Irureta has hit out at what he perceives as a lack of commitment from supporters and players alike ahead of the Champions League qualifier with the Irish club.
Irureta is disappointed that only eight supporters will travel to Dublin to follow his team and he is also thought to be angry with the club captain Fran Gonzalez, who has been left out of the squad for the first leg at Lansdowne Road.
"It is a physical, not a mental problem. He still has problems with his knee," said Irureta.
But the fact that the local-born veteran was willing to pursue a claim for wages with the Spanish Football League - a case which could have seen Deportivo relegated for non-payment - implies there is not a good atmosphere at the club.
Irureta also asked for more commitment from supporters: "Sometimes it seems as if we have got accustomed to living too well," he said. "The people have to live the club a bit more. I want them to see the reality of football, which is to go to the games, travel with the club and then give them support.
"Sometimes it seems we are like my local team. We live in the past and a lot of things here upset me, such as the fact that we are travelling to Dublin with only eight fans."
Irureta then warned that Shelbourne would not be as easy to overcome as many expect them to be.
"They are a dangerous side. I am sure of one thing and that is that there are no small teams and nobody wins by decree," said Irureta. He is also concerned that Shelbourne have already played 21 league games this season while his side have yet to play a competitive match.
"The fact that Shelbourne have played so many games evens things up in my estimation," he said. "It is very much a 50-50 game."
Deportivo will be without the striker Diego Tristan, who is still recovering from a leg injury and the defender Nourredine Naybet, who has been linked with Tottenham. Mauro Silva will play in central midfield and Alberto Luque and Walter Pandiani in attack.
