SOCCER/Rep of Ireland v China: Though he could be forgiven for being a little preoccupied with tomorrow night's game between Israel and France in Tel Aviv, Brian Kerr will look a little farther into his own side's future this evening as he fields a much changed starting line-up for the first visit of China to Lansdowne Road.
The game will provide the Irish manager with the opportunity to give run-outs to several of the players who lost out in what he described as "tight calls," at the weekend but taking on this evening's particular opponents, he said, would primarily be of use if the Republic do make it through to the next World Cup and end up being drawn against Asian opposition.
"Their style is a little bit different to what the lads have been used to," he said. "They play a short passing game, moving the ball around very fast in midfield although they have a strong centre forward and there's the occasional long ball up to him.
"In terms of the game's significance, I'd mainly see it as part of the team's overall education because if we do go to the World Cup then they're going to be coming up against sides from outside Europe and it's good to have a little bit of experience of that."
Of more immediate benefit, he said, is the chance it provides him to give starts to Paddy Kenny, Graham Kavanagh, Andy Reid and Richard Dunne, all of whom, it was confirmed on Sunday, will play tonight.
There is a case to be made for even more sweeping experimentation with Alan Maybury, Liam Miller and Aidan McGeady among those who might benefit if the manager opted for widespread try-outs but Kerr's appetite for winning friendly games suggests he will not get carried away with the personnel changes and a number of regulars - including Robbie Keane and Kevin Kilbane - look certain to be retained.
Shay Given, is definitely out, however, and the Newcastle goalkeeper actually returned to England yesterday to continue his recovery from the hip injury he suffered 10 days ago. Matt Holland is unlikely to play as his wife is recovering from a horse-riding accident while Roy Keane is expected to start the night on the bench and Kerr hinted that the team's other Newcastle players - Andy O'Brien and Steve Carr - could be rested because of the number of games they face in three different competitions over the coming weeks.
The policy could extend to Damien Duff, who will again carry an added burden for Chelsea in the Champions League next week given Arjen Robben's latest injury problem, and even Steve Finnan, who also has European commitments with Liverpool, if Kerr decides to give Maybury a start. Such sweeping changes, though, would be a considerable surprise.
Reid acknowledged yesterday this would an opportunity to "prove the manager wrong" in relation to Saturday's team selection but there was certainly no obvious hint of bitterness over the decision on the part of the young winger.
"Steve Finnan's playing Champions League on a regular basis at Liverpool while I've just come into the Premiership with Tottenham so basically," he said, "I just see it as Brian having opted for a more experienced player going into what was a very big game."
Dunne, meanwhile, was equally philosophical about having to settle for a place on the bench these days. "Andy (O'Brien) had to wait a long time for his chance," he observed, "and he's been doing very well since he got it so I have no complaints, it's just my turn to wait."
New Chinese manager Zhu Guanghu is expected to make at least three changes to the side that lost 3-0 in Spain at the weekend for what will only be his second game in charge of the national team. A heavy pitch and poor weather is said to have affected the touring side's performance but the reality is that, with only one of their European based players likely to feature this evening, it would be a major surprise if the Chinese can do significantly better against the Irish this evening.
The new coach enjoyed considerable success in the Chinese league with Shenzhen Jianlibao over recent seasons. With the national side having failed to make it to the second phase of qualifying for next summer's World Cup under Dutchman Arie Haan, Zhu Guanghu got the job, as the association turns its attention to targeting a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, because of his reputation for bringing younger players through.
To be fair to Haan, the team were unfortunate not to survive the first group stage of Asian qualifying for Germany.
His team conceded just one goal in their first five games but ended up having to beat Hong Kong in the sixth by two goals more than Kuwait beat Malaysia on the same day in order to progress. At one stage the games were 5-0 and 1-1 respectively but five second half goals by the Kuwaitis gave them a 6-1 victory while their rivals missed a penalty and ended up winning 7-0, a scoreline that left them in second place.
Several of the country's stronger players have not travelled to Dublin for this game and of the team expected to start this evening just four were at the last World Cup where China lost to Costa Rica, Turkey and Brazil in their three group matches.
In the circumstances, and with more than a year to go before their next competitive game, anything better would be considered a boost for a group that have more time than tonight's hosts do to achieve their full potential.
IRELAND (probable): Kenny (Sheffield United); Finnan (Liverpool), Cunningham (Birmingham City), Dunne (Manchester City), O'Shea (Manchester United); Reid (Tottenham Hotspur), Kavanagh (Wigan Athletic), Kilbane (Everton), Duff (Chelsea); Morrison (Birmingham City), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur).
CHINA: Liu Yunfei; Wei Xin, Ji Min Yi, Li Weifeng, Zhang Yaokun, Sun Xiang; Xu Yunlong, Zhao Junzhe, Hu Zhaojun, Shao Jia Yi; Li Yi.
