National League decisive games If recent experience of title races that go the distance is anything to go by then about 9.15 tonight they'll be celebrating down at Turner's Cross. Logic may suggest it is the current leaders of the Eircom League, Shelbourne, who will clinch another championship but history is most definitely in the Cork City corner and sometimes, it seems, that it is the most powerful force of all.

This will be the sixth time in 13 seasons the destination of the domestic game's biggest prize is decided by the last round of games. In four of the previous five the team in front at kick-off time has lost out with Shelbourne the victims in both 1998 and 2001.

Pat Fenlon has long insisted the record doesn't concern him but at a club that, more than any other these days, budgets for success the pressure will be intense as he and his players head for Inchicore for tonight's televised game. Despite having shown somewhat erratic form in recent weeks Shelbourne should be capable of beating a St Patrick's side that long looked threatened with relegation and only last week became the first team since early August to be beaten by Shamrock Rovers.

The visitors don't need to win, however, for a point against a team they have already beaten three times in the league this season would be enough to guarantee them the championship and another crack at the Champions League qualifiers next year. Even defeat would not be fatal if Cork fail to beat Bohemians. Needless to say Fenlon insists his men will aim to take all three points.

"We are going for a win," he says, "we're not looking for a point. You might be a bit cautious in European games but in our own league we feel we're capable of beating teams and this game is no different. It's a tough game but if we perform we should be able to pick up the points we need."

The league leaders are without suspended centre back Dave Rogers who will almost certainly be replaced by Kevin Doherty while Owen Heary and Wes Hoolahan have been troubled by a stomach bug but both should be fit to feature from the start.

Heary's presence will be particularly important to Fenlon on a night when his team need only keep a clean sheet to be sure of being crowned champions but most important will be the team's ability to keep its nerve.

It's an issue that has niggled with Fenlon in recent weeks. Now, he insists, his players will take their opportunity to show they have both the character and appetite for success required to be champions.

"The players confirmed their character last year when Bohs went ahead of us but we clawed it back," he said. "This year they have played in some of the top countries in Europe and held their own. We want to be there every season. The Champions League is where the club want to be."

Cork City, of course, want to be there too and Dolan could cite his own side's achievements in the InterToto Cup as evidence Shelbourne are not the only club here capable of approaching next year's early qualifying rounds with some degree of confidence.

Before they get the chance, however, Dolan knows they must win tonight and hope for good news, just as his St Patrick's Athletic side did in 1998 when victory at Buckley Park combined with Shelbourne's defeat by Dundalk earned them the title.

"If we don't get it right at our end there's no chance of winning the title, that's the first thing," he says. "So we'll look at it the way we do any other game - like our lives depend on it and we need the win. If we get the result then we can start worrying about what happens in Dublin but until then there's no point, we have to concentrate on doing our best here."

Dolan is without George O'Callaghan who is suspended and may also be missing the hero of the club's emphatic revival of late, Kevin Doyle, who has been struggling with a foot injury. Joe Gamble will start in midfield for O'Callaghan while Neale Fenn would replace Doyle if the young striker misses out.

The game is set to draw the largest attendance of the league season with 4,500 tickets having been sold by Wednesday evening but, like the one at Richmond Park, it is subject to a pitch inspection. The Dublin derby was last night felt to be the more vulnerable but if either ground is felt to be unplayable then both will be rescheduled, probably for Sunday afternoon.

Dublin City's game with Shamrock Rovers, which had to be called off last night, has already been refixed for Sunday (3 p.m.).