Brian Kerr will look to the burgeoning talent of Robert Doyle to provide the firepower when his Republic of Ireland under-16s take on hosts Israel at Herzlia this morning (kick-off 9.0).
With Israel having already beaten Turkey, a win over Ireland would put them through to the UEFA finals in the Czech Republic in April, and Ireland's second match with the Turks on Saturday would be something of a dead rubber.
That eventuality would be a first for this Irish team who have won all five games they've played at this level, scoring 11 and conceding just two goals.
And having watched that opening match of this three-team tournament with interest, the Irish players believe they have sufficient ability and, somewhat unusually for an Irish underage team, the size and strength to enter today's challenge with confidence. Doyle is chief among those of the view that Ireland can maintain their impressive form.
"If we play well and put our game together we can win," said Doyle, who was regarded as the player of the tournament when this team won the Nordic Cup in Iceland last August.
That accolade rubber stamped a move from Ardmore Rovers to Blackburn Rovers for the Bray youngster last September. He's mid-way through a season as a YTS player and starts a three-year professional contract at Elwood Park from April.
Tall and well-built, to some Doyle is viewed as a throwback to the traditional bustling centre-forward. Of the three goals he has scored in nine internationals, two have been with powerful headers from quality balls in from the flanks.
But there is far more to his game. "Robert is a strong running player with good skill," says Kerr. "He's a good finisher and is always very determined to get into a position to get a shot in on goal."
In keeping with his managerial method, Kerr will allow the squad to sleep on just who might be playing before announcing his team shortly before kick-off, though he did confirm they would line up in his favoured 4-3-3 formation, with one winger supplying two strikers up front.
With four key players unavailable, Kerr has had to think long and hard on his starting 11, as several of the players in the squad lack experience: four have not been capped at this level. "I like all the players to think they have a chance of being in the team for as long as possible as it helps to keep them all involved and focused," said Kerr.
Rep Of Ireland U-16 - Possible team (43-3): Roche (Nottingham Forest); Hudson (Nottingham Forest), Coleman (Wolverhampton Wanderers), van Zanten (Tolka Rovers, capt), Murphy (QPR); McDermott (Manchester United), Lester (Everton), Gamble (Everton, Cork); Larkin (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Doyle (Blackburn Rovers), Robinson (Middlesbrough).
