Shels expected to be at full strength for Glentoran tie

Shelbourne midfielder Stuart Byrne believes that the eircom League champions can put their bad run behind them once and for all with a victory over Glentoran in the Champions League first round tie.

Shels face Glentoran at The Oval tomorrow and next week in Tolka Park and, having won five of their last six games and previously suffered a seven game run without a victory – their worst run since 1994 – Byrne is confident that another victory would mean the disappointment of May and June would be forgotten.

"It’s a chance to prove to ourselves and to everybody that we’ve turned the corner," he said.

"There are a lot of factors but I think the biggest factor is probably that teams want to beat Shels now. You don’t get easy games anymore.

"We’ve found that playing teams this year, they’ve really been at it mentally, physically, in some cases, it’s like playing different teams."

Shelbourne will travel to Dundalk tonight for an overnight stay before travelling on to Belfast tomorrow and manager Pat Fenlon is confident that he will have a fully fit squad to choose from.

Colin Hawkins (calf) and Alan Moore (thigh) both returned to action against St Patrick’s Athletic last Friday while Dave Rogers (neck) is expected to be fit.

Jim Crawford and Alan Reynolds are also in training and close to full fitness.