Glentoran chairman Stafford Reynolds has allayed Shelbourne fears ahead of their trip to Belfast tomorrow by insisting there are no security concerns.
With the match played during the marching season in the north, which peaks with the Twelfth of July celebrations today and when sectarian tensions are high, there were worries over safety.
The Dublin team have been given special dispensation by UEFA to remain in the south for tonight as regulations generally require a club to travel into the opposing city 24 hours before kick-off.
It means Pat Fenlon's side will stay in Newry, with Reynolds generously travelling down for the pre-match meal, even though it is his club who should be hosting.
Reynolds, though, concedes: "I can understand their trepidation. Sometimes people have a vision of Belfast and there are concerns. It would be the same for us if we were travelling to a country in central Europe that has problems. We would be concerned."
"But I would like to reassure them that everything should be fine, and the particular issues are nothing to do with us, they are political. We want these matches to build relationships and an understanding throughout domestic football in Ireland, and to help develop the game in both the north and south."
The recent Setanta Cup, the first cross-border competition for a number of years - with Shelbourne losing to Linfield in the final - was staged without significant problems.
"That showed people can travel through Ireland without any major incidents and I don't see any reason why there should be any trouble on this occasion," added Reynolds.
Shelbourne manager Fenlon is of the same mind as he said: "I don't have a problem going up there, and I don't think any of the players do either."
More important to Fenlan is that his side avenge their surprise 2-0 defeat to Linfield at the end of May, and on home soil at Tolka Park.
Fenlon said: "Getting turned over by Linfield came as a bit of a shock. We never expected to lose that game, so this is a chance for us to get our own back on a team from the north."
