Soccer League Cup final preview St Patrick's Athletic v Longford Town Richmond Park, 7.45St Patrick's Athletic hope a specialist will give leading scorer Tony Bird the all clear this morning to return to the side for the first trophy-giving of the season in this evening's attractive League Cup final.

Bird, who has scored 11 league goals this season, didn't play in Friday's rousing 2-1 league win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park because of a neck injury.

"It's an injury to the base of his neck caused by wear and tear due to the amount of headers and twists and turns he does," said St Patrick's manager Eamonn Collins. "But, fingers crossed, he should be all right to play."

Collins's hopes of involving one fringe player who helped get St Patrick's to the final have been dealt a blow with goalkeeper James Gallagher, hero of their semi-final shoot-out win over Cork City, rated very doubtful with a hip injury.

Stephen Quigley, Anthony Murphy and Keith Dunne, who have featured throughout the run to the final, are fit and will be in the squad.

The expectation it will be an occasion fit to fill Richmond Park to its 5,400 capacity is fuelled by the fact both sides are in such excellent form, third and fourth in the league. St Patrick's are unbeaten in five games while Longford are enjoying their best run under manager Alan Matthews as they search to make it ten games without defeat and lift their first trophy.

While Longford have influential midfielder Philip Keogh returning from suspension, winger Brian Byrne needed 10 stitches in a head cut after Friday's win at UCD and is unlikely to feature. Left back Seán Prunty (thigh) and central defender Barry Ferguson (knee) will require late fitness tests.

"Both Longford and ourselves like to play football and there will be a huge crowd so we are hoping for a good attractive game," said Collins.

"This won't be a draw," added Matthews. "We're coming to have a right go and I'm sure St Pat's will do the same so it should be a good game."