riveting a cam chain

[Dcock]

so i have my new cam chain, and i also have my rivet link. I'm going to replace my old cam chain on tuesday/wednesday. I've been looking at the rivet link and the chain and working out the best way to rivet it. I'm after a bit of advice from someone that has done it already about how best to press the side plate on and also how do i hold the internal two plates while sliding the rivet link through the holes without dropping everything  into the crank casings... stuff it with rag?

Cheers, Dan