As Shelbourne prepare for the second face-off with Rosenborg tonight, Dermot Keely has a lot on his mind.

The Shelbourne manager has spent the past few days regrouping with his team and putting he final touches to his teams tactics and motives for the crucial game.

The pressure is on of course. Shels are 3-1 down from the first leg, and Keely and the team itself have the task of coming back from it.

Since the last game Keely has been observing Rosenborg's style, monitoring any insights to seize advantage of any weakness.

One of the problems he must negotiate is Rosenborg's fluid passing style. Keely will have to employ sharper tactical structures, especially in midfield.

Pace is also important. "When we increased the pace last week, we seized control of the game, and they got upset", Keely said.

For the layout of the side, Keely will adapt the 4-3-3 shape again, seeing the two Bakers stay up front alongside Stephen Geoghegan, hoping that the extra attack in midfield will tighten and quench Norwegian possession, and show the holes in their defence.

But you have to ask if this is a wise choice of play, considering that last time, Garry Haylock was totally outnumbered in midfield, and the Norwegian's had more control on the left.

For this game, Haylock won't be picked, Keely is going for Davy Byrne's pace and aggression instead. But other questions remain as to whether or not Scully and McCarthy will be strong enough in defence.

"We'll never know until we try things like this", Keely commented, adding that "We could go out and play like we do at home, then get stuffed and learn nothing".

It clear anyway that although Keely is wondering how things will be in the game, he is positive in the embarking of the mountainous challenge, and learning from the results.

"Here we have to think - me, the club, the players. And the players have. This adventure has made them more intelligent than before. They are also better and sharper"

"I ain't the negative type. I do want to have a go at them, but wonder if we have the legs to play at a high tempo from the start".

Well tonight we get some of the answers. On the Rosenborg front, they continued their winning streak last Sunday with a 2-1 win over Lillestrom, that put them 10 points ahead in their league.

Rosenborg themselves might expect to win tomorrow, but manager Nilds Arne Eggsen isn't overlooking Shelbourne.

"Last week, I thought Shelbourne were surprisingly good", he commented. "Every game has it's own life, and I think this night will be tough".

Meanwhile, both teams finalised their alliance yesterday, when Keely met with the squad to share their tactics and structure, in the hope to get the same play in Ireland.