Saints set sights on Hertha Berlin

<notforsyndication>The UEFA Cup first round, second leg match at the RDS between Saint Patrick's Athletic v Hertha Berlin will be broadcast on RTÉ Two, RTÉ Radio 1 (LW and DAB) and RTÉ.ie from 4.45pm.</notforsyndication>

St Patrick’s Athletic's American striker Ryan Guy believes that the Inchicore side have a realistic chance of progressing to the group stages of the UEFA Cup with a win over Hertha BSC at the RDS on Tuesday.

Guy said: ‘It’s eleven humans against eleven at the end of the day. We have nothing to lose and there is a good feeling within the squad.

‘It will be the biggest game in the history of the club and means a lot to the team, the squad and the community.’

Speaking at a media briefing at the RDS, St Pat’s boss Johnny McDonnell said: 'We're 90 minutes away from potentially a huge change for everyone and everything at this club but we need to put that to the back of our minds for now.

‘We'll need to be in control, we have plans in place for the game but it's important we don't get done on the counter-attack.

‘We'll have to get in behind them and put plenty of ball into their box. We need to improve on the last day and get at them in the last third.

‘It's not often that you have the calibre of a team such as Hertha Berlin playing competitive football in Dublin.

‘It's a major sporting event, probably the most important game in the club's history and I would love to see the crowds coming out to support us.’

The home side warmed up for the game with a 2-0 win over Sporting Fingal to book their place in the FAI Ford Cup final on Friday.

Glenn Fitzpatrick headed home from an Alan Kirby cross to seal the victory that night, and McDonnell believes width could be a key way to open up a Berlin side who currently lie tenth in the German Bundesliga.

‘We'll need to pass it and play so we need the width and use it for the likes of Ryan Guy to show his pace,’ McDonnell said.

McDonnell has Jason Gavin and Derek O'Brien back in the squad after the duo were rested for the Fingal game.

Dessie Byrne is an injury doubt for the game having suffered a knock on Friday, but John Murphy should be fit for at least a place on the bench.

Gojko Kacar and Patrick Ebert have been ruled out for Berlin, who also have doubts over strike duo Marko Pantelic and Liverpool's on-loan striker Andriy Voronin.

St Pat’s hope to hold a minute’s silence, subject to UEFA approval, in memory of former coach Noel O’Reilly, who died on Friday.