DERBY COUNTY central defender Paul McGrath may have to put thoughts of an English FA Cup final appearance at the age of 37 on hold as he could face the axe for tonight's fifth-round clash with Coventry City at the Baseball Ground.

Irish international McGrath would dearly love another appearance at the Twin Towers in the twilight of his career and, with so many of the big clubs out of the competition, this may represent his best chance.

But he was substituted after a below-par display in Saturday's 4-2 mauling at Leicester City and Derby manager Jim Smith is considering leaving him out of the starting line-up against Coventry.

All three centre-backs had a rare off day at Filbert Street, but Smith feels Derby's recent hectic schedule is another factor to take into account regarding McGrath.

He said: "By next week, we will have played twice a week for a month and that is a heavy programme for anyone. But Paul also had the international against Wales and I did think about leaving him out on Saturday.

"We gave him Tuesday off and, although he will still want to play against Coventry, I will make the decision.

McGrath admitted: "The lads at the back did have an off day on Saturday and it seemed that everything which came into our box ended up in the back of the net. Normally when you score twice away from home, you'd expect to get something out of the game.

"You have to grin and bear days like that. I was brought off on Saturday but obviously want to play against Coventry. However, it is up to the manager and then you just get on with things.

"It is getting close to Wembley, but I am not looking past Coventry at this stage, and to reach the quarter-finals would be exciting in itself. But I have to admit it would be nice to go back to the Twin Towers one more time."

McGrath pinpoints Coventry striker Darren Huckerby as a dangerman to Derby.

McGrath said: "He has had his first decent run of games in the Premier League and has done well. He has good pace and has managed a few important goals for them."

Smith must check on the fitness of full-back Chris Powell, who twisted his ankle against Leicester, but midfielder Darryl Powell is back in contention after serving a three-match ban for his sending-off against Liverpool.

Dutch striker Ron Willems is also available after a four-match absence with a hamstring injury, while midfielder Robin van der Laan could also return after missing the Leicester game through flu.

Coventry manager Gordon Strachan is keeping his team under wraps but he will have to mace one change from the side which drew with Everton on Saturday as central defender Gary Breen is cup-tied.

Veteran Brian Borrows and Aleksandi Evtushok could replace him although Strachan also has the option of switching striker Dion Dublin to plug the gap and replace up him front with Noel Whelan.

Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit yesterday laughed off the suggestion that he had fired up Leicester ahead of tonight's FA Cup fifth-round replay by maintaining: "I was only telling the truth."

The Stamford Bridge side looked to be cruising into the last eight after first-half goals from Roberto Di Matteo and Mark Hughes.

But Leicester hit back after the break, Steve Walsh hauling them back into contention before Eddie Newton put through his own goal two minutes from time.

Gullit's response was to brand Leicester "lucky", saying the long-ball Midlanders had created nothing, made only two set-piece chances, and he was "very comfortable" about going through to claim a trip to Portsmouth.

Complaints from the Leicester camp brought no backtracking from Gullit. "I don't worry about what I said, because I didn't lie," said Gullit, who has major doubts over goalkeeper Kevin Hitchcock and Dan Petrescu.

While Gullit has his injury doubts - Frode Grodas, Andy Myers and possibly even the player-manager himself are on standby - O'Neill welcomes back suspended quartet Neil Lennon, Emile Heskey, Muzzy Izzet and Matt Elliott.

But the Chelsea chief sees no reason to alter his opinion that everything is in his side's favour tonight. "It's different when you have to go away next time after being 2-0 up, but we're at home now, and everybody knows the good football we're playing at Stamford Bridge," said Gullit.

Chelsea's display in beating Liverpool in the fourth round, and the exits of all but Wimbledon and Sheffield Wednesday from the Premiership's top 11 have seen Gullit's men installed as favourites.