National League Preview: He may be without his leading scorer for this evening's match against Waterford United but Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon yesterday played down the significance of the run of red cards shown to his players in recent games.

"To be honest it doesn't bother me," said Fenlon, who was himself ordered out of the dugout in Friday's game against Shamrock Rovers. "For ages everybody has been saying we're too soft, now all of a sudden everyone is saying we're too hard."

Byrne's dismissal last weekend means the striker must sit out the visit of United. In his absence, Ger McCarthy looks set for his first competitive start since joining the Tolka Park club from St Patrick's Athletic in the close season. "Ger's been very impressive in training and come on and done well for us a couple of times so he deserves his chance," said the Shelbourne manager.

Jim Gannon and Jim Crawford are back in contention after serving suspensions but Richie Baker is a slight doubt after picking up a hamstring strain, although Fenlon said the winger should be fit enough to figure.

United should be much stronger than last week when a second-half slump was seized upon by Derry whose 4-1 win was the club's best of the season to date. Gary O'Neill should be fit enough to partner Daryl Murphy up front again while Kevin O'Brien and Alan Reilly are both available after injury problems.

Jimmy McGeough said he would prefer to rest central midfielder Mark Clifford who picked up arm and groin injuries at the Brandywell, but "we're short of options really so I'm sure he'll play".

Still out, though, are the injured Dave Mulcahy and the suspended Vinny Sullivan and McGeough maintained that, with such a small squad to work off, even the loss of two players for a game like this evening's represented a considerable handicap.

"When we have everybody to choose from we've always said we would give anyone a game and we're getting back to that stage," he said. "Last week we were really struggling, though, and when you're up against a side of the quality of Shelbourne, who are still unbeaten, you'd like to be at your strongest."