National LeagueSuspensions and injuries have combined to make St Patrick's Athletic's task of trying to end their nine-match run without a win tonight at Shelbourne all the tougher.
"We're missing six players so to get anything out of this match will be a bonus," said manager John McDonnell who drafts under-21 players Robbie Smith and Peter Darcy into his squad.
Left winger Seán O'Connor, sent off in Monday's 1-1 draw at Bohemians, is suspended along with Robbie Doyle while fellow striker Gerard Rowe is ineligible due to the terms of his loan from Shelbourne.
Colm Foley is out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage while Chris Armstrong (knee) and Alan Reilly (calf) are also sidelined.
With a rejuvenated Waterford United now just four points behind them in the relegation play-off place, and a very difficulty run-in with further away games at Waterford, Cork City and Derry City to come, St Patrick's position looks hazardous at best.
"We're not scoring goals," said goalkeeper and captain Barry Ryan of a side who have found the net just four times in their last 10 games.
"We've nobody to put the ball in the net. We're getting 1-0 leads and then not killing teams off," said Ryan who expects to be fit to play despite a dead leg suffered in training on Tuesday.
"Bray got a late winner against us while Drogheda scored their equaliser in the 91st minute. The penalty Bohs got the other night was never a penalty."
Though defeat at Derry last week all but ended Shelbourne's title-retention hopes, manager Pat Fenlon still harbours hopes of snatching second place and with it a Uefa Cup spot.
"We're not resigned to anything at the moment," said Fenlon. "It's going to be difficult because Cork and Derry can only throw it away now.
"But with two of them going for it there is a little bit of hope and they have to play each other in the last game, so we won't be giving up."
Though Jim Crawford is banned, Stuart Byrne returns from his protracted suspension. Wes Hoolahan won't be risked as he needs to rest a calf strain.
With Cork City's match at Bohemians postponed due to international commitments, Derry City can regain leadership of the table with a result in the last northwest derby of the season at bottom club Finn Harps.
While Derry are expected to be at full strength, Harps, who would move off the bottom with a victory, will make changes as left-back Jonathan Minnock is suspended. He may be replaced by the returning Stephen Capper or Eloka Asokuh could move across from right back with Shaun McGowan coming into the side.
Chris Breen may again be on the bench as player-manager Anthony Gorman is likely to stick with Paddy McGrenaghan playing in behind lone striker Kevin McHugh.
Mark Rutherford will again deputise at left-back for the suspended Keith Doyle as Shamrock Rovers hope to build on last week's encouraging 4-2 win over Longford Town against Drogheda United at United Park.
TONIGHT'S FIXTURES
(7.45 unless stated)
Premier Division: Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers; Finn Harps v Derry City (8.0); Shelbourne v St Patrick's Athletic (8.0).
First Division: Galway United v Kilkenny City (7.30); Limerick FC v Athlone Town
