St Patrick's Athletic v Shamrock Rovers

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Shamrock Rovers can take one step closer to winning the Airtricity League Premier Division title with victory at St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park tonight, kick-off 7.35pm.

The Hoops are seven points clear of Saints and Bohemians at the top of the table, having not lost in the league since 3 May.

Rovers manager Michael O'Neill has serious doubts over the availability of Robert Bayly because of a knee injury.

Pat Flynn will serve the second of his two-game ban for a straight red card in the Bohemians game and Pat Sullivan is a long-term absentee.

Aidan Price is available again after missing last week's Sligo Rovers game through injury.

Dave Mulcahy will return for the Saints having recovered from the hamstring injury he picked up against Sligo last month.

Striker Paul Byrne is out for the season with a fractured ankle and midfielder Derek Doyle is suspended.

St Pat's boss Pete Mahon has stressed the importance of the encounter for his side:

'We can't afford to lose and go 10 points behind Rovers if we want to win the title.

'This is our second must-win game against Rovers. We played them at the end of last season when we needed to avoid relegation. It's the same three points on offer but this time it's for vastly different reasons.

'We have already improved a lot since last season, Rovers finished second last year so the pressure is really on them to go one better.'

Mahon concluded: 'Seven points ahead with eight games to go is a great position to be in but it ain't over yet.'

Hoops boss Michael O'Neill praised his players this week and called on them to continue their good form for the run-in.

'It was a great result for us (against Sligo), especially as it was such a tough game.

'Also, we didn't play that well in the first half. We were much better in the second half, but that game did show that even when we're not at our best we are capable of getting results at the moment.'

'Quite a few of the players have come into some great form in the last month or so. The players we have brought into games lately - like Sean O'Connor last week - have been excellent, just when we needed them.

'And we need that to continue over the next couple of months, especially tomorrow night.

'It will be a tough game, but the players are all really looking forward to it.'