MARCO TARDELLI is expected to be in attendance at Richmond Park tonight for the Setanta Sports Cup clash between St Patrick's Athletic and Linfield.

The assistant to new Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is spending this month in Dublin improving his English while utilising the weekends to fly to matches in the UK.

However, the Irish Independent has learned that Tardelli is "99pc certain" to use the opportunity to take in some local talent at Inchicore as table-topping Saints host a game they need to win after a disappointing start to their campaign.

There has been some dismay in League of Ireland circles that there were no domestic-based players in 40-man squad named by Liam Brady and Tardelli last week for next month's training camp in the Algarve with Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon amongst those expressing surprise that there wasn't room for one or two players in such a large selection.

Tonight, Tardelli will get a chance to look at two players in particular who are considered amongst the most likely to push on further in their career.

Saints midfielder Keith Fahey has arguably been the outstanding performer in the new season to date and picked up the Eircom/SWAI Player-of-the-Month award in March for his efforts.

Meanwhile, Joe O'Cearuill, who joined the Saints in the off season, already has two full international caps from the tour to the US last year, and is well known to Brady having spent time at Arsenal in addition to playing in front of him for the under-21s against Montenegro at Terryland Park a fortnight ago.

Yet this will be his first chance to impress Tardelli who last week said that where a player plies his trade is not the principle concern when selecting players for the international team.

O'Cearuill has been used at both centre half and right back during his time in Ireland although it is likely that he will be marshalling from the heart of the defence this evening with David Partridge absent through suspension and Jamie Harris on the sidelines.

Aside from the novelty of World Cup winner Tardelli being in the stands, there will be a serious off-field presence with a large travelling support from Belfast anticipated.

Officials from both clubs and police from either side of the border have met and have been in contact over the past three weeks to ensure that the night passes by peacefully and extensive security plans have been put in place so Linfield fans can be ferried in and out safely.

Fears had been expressed after garda intelligence suggested that a group not affiliated to Saints fans were planning to target visiting fans. Moving the game to Belfast had even figured in negotiations.

Ultimately, common sense prevailed and an entertaining evening should lie in store. Linfield, for their part, come into this match after a 0-0 draw with rivals Glentoran in the Carnegie Premier League on Saturday. They received a setback in that game with Jim Ervin sustaining cruciate ligament damage although they at least come into this encounter in a strong position with two wins in this competition to date.

Next Fixture

vs GALWAY UNITED

Date: May 1st (7:45pm)
Competition: League
Venue: Eamonn Deacy Park
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Team	Pld	Pts
St Patrick's Athletic	13	26
Shamrock Rovers	13	25
Dundalk	13	21
Bohemian FC	13	20
Derry City	13	17
Galway United	12	15
Sligo Rovers	13	14
Shelbourne	12	13
Drogheda United	12	13
Waterford FC	12	5