Uefa Under-19 Championship QualifierCoach Seán McCaffrey has told his Republic of Ireland under-19 side three points are the minimum target from their opening Uefa Championship qualifier against Belarus today. The Irish youths have been made aware of the need for victory if they are to progress through the first phase.

McCaffrey has a 100 per cent record of making it past the first hurdle in his four years as manager of the Irish under-19s and under-17s. With hosts Portugal and Andorra to come, the meeting with Belarus (3pm) could be pivotal. "It's a huge match. We have to win it. A draw would keep us in it but a defeat would diminish our chances of qualifying greatly," he said.

The Irish travelled to Portugal with a weakened squad. Key strikers Terry Dixon and Cillian Sheridan are out injured. Club commitments also ruled out Norwich's Michael Spillane and Hamilton's James McCarthy. Manchester City defender Garry Breen (ankle) is a doubt.

"We're not coming in on any sort of form. There are lots of players at this age but unfortunately we lost some of the outstanding ones," said McCaffrey. "Belarus are a physically huge side. They've five or six players well over six feet and their centre-forward must be 6ft 5ins. Their weakness is a slow defence but they're a competent side."

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND UNDER-19 SQUAD: S Redmond (Nottingham For), J McKeown (Peterborough), B Moloney (Nottingham For), M Spillane (Norwich City), N Haverty (St Patrick's Ath), S Lowry (Aston Villa), G Breen (Manchester City), D Earls (Aston Villa), L Fitzgerald (West Ham Utd), M Daly (Manchester City), P Cahillane (Celtic), H Arter (Charlton Ath), G Carey (Celtic), D McDermott (Manchester City), I Bermingham (UCD), D Hutton (Tottenham), C Fagan (Manchester Utd), I Daly (Manchester City).

Rep of Ireland v Belarus

Povoa do Varzim, Portugal, today, 3pm