Soccer Champions League qualifiers: As uncomfortable a thought as it is for the travelling fans, Glentoran arrive at Tolka Park this evening with the sole ambition of emulating Linfield.
It's not hard, however, to see why the Irish League champions have drawn so much comfort from the Setanta Cup success of their bitter Belfast rivals.
There's little enough else to suggest that Roy Coyle's side can rescue a Champions League qualifier in which they must score at least twice if they, rather than Shelbourne, are to face Steaua Bucharest in the next round.
But the home side will recall the way they were dominated at Tolka Park in May and the thought of that 2-0 win for Linfield may play on the minds of both managers as they prepare for this evening's 7.30 kick-off.
For all the talk of their achievements last year, Shelbourne's record in European competition down the years has been poor but it still stands head and shoulders above that of their opponents this evening in recent years.
Glentoran's second leg defeat of Finland's Alianssi last year was their first ever away win and the first at any venue since they edged out visitors from Iceland 20 years ago.
To repeat the feat this evening would, in fact, comfortably overshadow the achievement of David Jeffrey's men for Glentoran have neither the physical edge over the Dubliners that Linfield enjoyed nor the advantage of playing this game at a time when they, rather than Pat Fenlon's men, are fully match fit.
On the evidence of last week's 2-1 win for the Dubliners there's little for Coyle's men to do tonight but emulate Shelbourne's own approach of 12 months ago; look to start steadily while probing for an early goal and then, if the required breakthrough doesn't come, be prepared to go for broke late on.
The expected return to the starting line up of Michael Halliday and Chris Morgan bolsters their attacking threat but, unless the required goals come early, they are likely to end up leaving space for Shelbourne to exploit once again late on as they chase the tie with tired legs.
Bar Alan Reynolds and Jamie Harris, Fenlon has a full squad to choose from and he has hinted that there might be one change from last Wednesday's starting side. Alan Moore who, after some wayward passing immediately after entering the fray at the Oval, did much to open the home side's defence up, looks the likely candidate to displace somebody.
However Jim Crawford would also look a useful addition to the central midfield given the altered agenda.
In either case it is hard to predict who might miss out. David Crawley has recovered from the foot injury sustained in the first half of the first game.
But Ollie Cahill performed well at left back after dropping into defence and so might start there while the former Cork City player could himself be dropped as might Wes Hoolahan or Glen Crowe depending on who is brought in and, if Moore is to start, what role Fenlon has in mind for the versatile former Middlesbrough midfielder.
"It's a slightly different situation to the sort of thing we're used to," says Fenlon of having a lead to defend, "but we'll still look to win the game on the night because I don't really think we can play any other way.
"The late goal last week has made it all that little bit harder and it's disappointing because we made life difficult for ourselves over the last 10 minutes or so.
"But overall I was very pleased and if we can play as well tonight we should be all right although it will be a very different game because they do have to go for a bit this time."
Tickets for the game, which will be broadcast live on RTE 2 television, are available at the ground tonight.
Shelbourne v Glentoran Tolka Park, 7.30 On TV: RTE 2
PROBABLE TEAMS: SHELBOURNE: Delaney; Heary, Hawkins, Rogers, Crawley; Baker, S Byrne, Hoolahan, Moore; Cahill, J Byrne.
GLENTORAN: Morris; Nixon, Leeman, Walker, Holmes; Ward, Lockhart, McCallion, Keegan;, Morgan, Halliday.
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