If you reckon that you've had one of those weeks at the office, maybe a chat with Damien Richardson would help to put it perspective. The Shelbourne manager had to watch as his side timidly surrendered the league in Oriel Park last Friday night before having to contend with tabloid talk of his impending dismissal earlier this week.

Now, when he desperately needs a victory in the Harp Lager FAI Cup final to steady the Shelbourne ship and silence his critics, he is forced to wait, helplessly, until this afternoon before discovering whether two of his key players from the campaign so far will be in a position to play any part in tomorrow's match at Dalymount Park.

There is, of course, some good news. Pat Fenlon and Dessie Baker are available for selection again after serving out one match bans last week. Both are certain to return to Richardson's starting line up but elsewhere much will depend on the progress of Greg Costello and Dave Campbell both of whom will take part in this afternoon's final training session, after which Richardson will inform his players of his selection.

"I'll wait until then when we know exactly who is fit and who isn't," says the manager who declines to be drawn on either player's chances of making it. It is unlikely, however, that he would take the risk of starting with both of them and, of the two, Costello may be the more likely to figure, not least because the options for covering him are not quite as numerous as they are in the centre of the field.

There are a number of possibilities, though, with Dave Smith available to switch to the right and Declan Geoghegan slotting back in at left full. Mick Neville, the only player singled out for praise by Richardson after the 2-1 defeat in Oriel, could also figure either at full back, where he has played on a number of occasions this year, or just in front of the back four where he deployed last Friday.

If, on the other hand, Costello does make it, and the advice received from a specialist earlier this week was said to be fairly positive, then both the back four and the midfield are likely to take on far more familiar appearances. Smith will probably be at left full while the only serious question mark elsewhere would appear to whether Tony Sheridan starts or not.

The 23-year-old has grown increasingly peripheral to his manager's plans this season despite performances like the one he produced in the first semi-final match against Finn Harps during which his superb through balls were the main difference between the sides.

On that occasion he was played in the centre of a five man midfield, an approach that worked well for the Dubliners, but employing such a formation tomorrow would require the omission of Liam Kelly up front, which seems unlikely given his form in the earlier rounds while, if Richardson sticks with four across the middle he seems likely to be kept out by Dean Fitzgerald in the centre and, on the right where he has repeatedly been played but rarely performed, by Baker.

"It's a question," says Richardson of the team selection generally rather than of the position with regard to Sheridan specifically "of not wanting to gamble too much. If I was to take a chance on either Greg or Dave then I'd have to look to play safe elsewhere."

Mick Neville may also have to settle for a place on the bench in what may well be his last competitive game for the club if the manager opts for the more cautious approach.

In the City camp, meanwhile, Dave Barry has a few decision to make himself, primarily in the centre of midfield where only two from Kelvin Flanagan, Dave Hill and Patsy Freyne will be started if the manager opts for the 4-4-2 formation that has served them well for the bulk of this season.

Hill would appear to be the only certain starter with either Flanagan or Freyne expected to replace the other at some point in the game and, although Barry was at pains this week to point out how much he feels Flanagan has contributed this season, Freyne's steadying influence would seem to give him the edge in terms of the starting 11 with Barry then looking to withdraw him as he tires later on.

Noel Hartigan came through training on Thursday night without any problems but, given the strong form of Jason Kabia and Johnny Glynn in recent weeks, the teenager is another one to face a start on the bench where he will probably be joined by City's defensive cover, Brian Barry Murphy.

"It's as many players as I've had to choose from all season which is a good problem to have," says Barry who is nevertheless without Mark Herrick and Colin O'Brien "and the fact that the centre forwards seem to have hit a bit of form lately is a great boost.

"We were the second highest scorers in the league after Shelbourne this year, which is something that a lot of people don't give us credit for and for long spells players were having to chip in goals from other areas of the pitch because the strikers were finding it difficult. Now Jason's on a bit of a run and Johnny's has scored in his last couple of games so we'll go into the game confident that we can go forward and score the way they usually do, and they're probably the best in the country when they're going forward."