FORMER Bohemians boys Shaun Maher and Garreth O'Connor are both in contention for starting roles as Cherries boss Sean O'Driscoll looks to the Irish for a change of luck.

Maher and O'Connor are poised to line up against Division Two high-fliers Stoke City at Dean Court tomorrow as Cherries bid to end a dismal run of three successive home defeats.

O'Connor is expected to be handed only his fifth league start of the season following his eye-catching second-half performance in the Cherries midfield during the 3-3 draw at Oldham six days ago.

And central defender Maher, who netted an own goal in Cherries' 2-0 defeat at Stoke in September, is likely to step in at the back for Karl Broadhurst who sits out due to a one-match suspension.

The Dubliners, who share a flat in Charminster, struck up a firm friendship during their days together at Bohemians and were reunited when Maher joined Cherries at the start of this season.

But with O'Connor res-tricted to just four league starts and Maher's season plagued by injury, the pair have not lined up together since Cherries' 3-2 victory over Bury in September.

Cherries boss O'Driscoll looks set to recall O'Connor at the expense of Wade Elliott who was substituted after turning in an uncharacteristically poor first-half display at Oldham.

O'Driscoll said: "Garreth has been performing well in training and played exceptionally well in our last two reserve games.

"With Wade not firing on all cylinders at Oldham, it gave him an opportunity to come on when we were 1-0 down and he performed really well. He had a hand in all three of our goals so he's deserved his chance and I'm sure he will relish the opportunity if he's selected tomorrow."

Maher also appeared as a second-half substitute at Boundary Park and his presence at the back helped Cherries repel a late Oldham onslaught.

O'Driscoll added: "It was a tactical move to put Shaun on at Oldham because they brought on an extra forward and his height gave us another dimension.

"He's been a bit unlucky with injury and illness, but with Karl Broadhurst suspended, Shaun is a natural replacement so we could have the Irish contingent in against Stoke."

O'Connor will be in contention for a midfield berth with Brian Stock who returns after missing the Oldham clash due to suspension, while fans' favourite Elliott could be rested.

Trialist Isaiah Rankin could also feature should O'Driscoll decide to sign him on loan before today's noon deadline.

The Barnsley striker has been training with Cherries this week with a view to signing a short-term deal.

Loan signing JJ Melligan returned to the club yesterday, but is unlikely to be included in the squad due to his ankle injury.

Tresor Kandol is doubtful with a groin injury, while leading scorer Warren Feeney trained yesterday for the first time this week after picking up a groin strain at Oldham.

Goalkeeper Gareth Stewart will continue to play through the pain barrier after sustaining a neck injury when he was kicked by Huddersfield's Andy Booth a fortnight ago.

Cherries: (from) Stewart, Purches, Tindall, Howe, Maher, C Fletcher, Hughes, O'Connor, Hayter, Holmes, Feeney, Elliott, Stock, Foyewa, Eribenne, Smith, Huck, Ford, Menetrier.

Stoke City: (from) Cutler, Thomas, Flynn, Shtaniuk, Clarke, Gudjonsson, Neal, Marteinsson, O'Connor, Goodfellow, Dadason, Cooke, Iwelumo, Henry, Hoekstra, Vandeurzen, Rowson, Alcock.

Sean O'Driscoll has decided not to pursue an appeal against Richard Hughes's sending-off against QPR 10 days ago.

But O'Driscoll has sent a copy of the match video to referees' assessor Mick Pierce to ask for his observations of the incident.

Hughes was dismissed for two bookable offences against Rangers and will miss the visit of Cardiff on Tuesday due to suspension.

Michael Menetrier and Pascal Tetu were back in training yesterday (Thursday) after they were both given compassionate leave by the club to return to France for family reasons earlier this month.