Brian Kerr restores Celtic's Liam Miller to his midfield as the Republic of Ireland under-18s hope to rubber-stamp their passage through to the next stages of the UEFA under-18 qualifiers against Malta at the Hibernians ground on the outskirts of Valletta this morning (kick-off 10.0).

Miller's drive and energy in the holding role in front of the back four has been one of the foundations of the success of this squad over the last few years. And now, after serving a two-match suspension, the Cork youngster's return is as inevitable as it is welcome.

"It was an easy decision to make to bring Liam back into the middle of the field," said Kerr after yesterday's training session, before adding dryly, "who I leave out will require considerably more thought."

With captain Shaun Byrne also certain to keep his place, the other two positions across the centre will be picked from Thomas Butler, regarded as man of the match in Monday's opening 2-0 win over Liechtenstein, the more subdued Gary Dempsey and winger Brendan McGill.

Miller, for the moment, is just glad to be back after serving his two-match ban for a sending off against Italy in last summer's under-18 finals in Sweden. Indeed, Miller only found out when he joined up with the squad prior to their departure for Malta last Wednesday that he had been given a two-game ban, having assumed that his suspension for the third place play-off in Sweden was the sum of his punishment.

Miller is not one for complaining, however, as he usually allows his performances on the pitch to do his talking.

Watching matches is not a chosen vocation for Miller either.

With Liechtenstein putting nine men behind the ball on a bumpy, narrow pitch on Monday, Ireland carved out a win in what was a poor spectacle of a match.

"While it must have been very frustrating to have played against such a defensive team," said Miller, "I can tell you it was far more frustrating having to watch it from the stand." Malta should play a bit more than Liechtenstein and Miller points out that that should suit Ireland in making it a far more open game.

"Malta know they can't lose to us or they're out before they even play Liechtenstein, so we're expecting them to have a go," said Miller. "That should leave us space to get at them." The superior pitch at the Hibernians ground has added to Kerr's confidence. "It's a big wide pitch and the surface is fine so this should be a far more open game than the other one," he said.

Malta's main threat should come from Sliema Wanderers striker Michael Mifsud, the darling of the local game here, and a player from whom much is expected.

With both Irish central defenders, John O'Shea and Jim Goodwin, on yellow cards discipline and concentration will be needed to avoid either of them acquiring a further booking which would, if as expected Ireland win, rule them out of next spring's play-off with France to decide who goes through to the finals in Germany in July.

Republic of Ireland (probable): Mur- phy (Tranmere Rovers); Thompson (Nottingham Forest), O'Shea (Manchester United), Goodwin (Celtic), Foy (Nottingham Forest); McGill (Sunderland), Miller (Celtic), Demspey (Everton), S Byrne (West Ham United); Barrett (Arsenal), Burgess (Blackburn Rovers).