Keith Treacy and David McMillan have backed Shelbourne to get over the line in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division but only if they can navigate the choppy waters of extra European games and continue to be astute in the transfer market when it opens in July.
Damien Duff has guided the club to the top of the league as it goes into a two-week mid-season break but Shels have Derry City hot on their heels and four-in-a-row Shamrock Rovers cannot be discounted, despite being off the pace.
Shelbourne will be drawn against one of Icelandic side Breidablik, Luxembourg's F91 Diddeleng, SP Tre Penne of San Marino, Gibraltar's St Joseph's FC and Northern Ireland's Crusaders in the Europa Conference League first qualifying round and the extra continental games could strain what is a relatively tight squad, which will be shorn of one of its defensive cornerstones after Gavin Molloy moves to Aberdeen on 1 July.
Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, former Republic of Ireland international Treacy said last Thursday's hard-fought win over Waterford could be a template to haul them through the testing period that will come when the league returns and European assignments arrive.
"If they can do that against Waterford, not play too well and not have too many chances, not be as dynamic as they usually are, not as aggressive as they usually are out of possession but go and win 1-0, if you can do that during the European period, there is absolutely no reason they can't win the league," he said.
"But already, Molloy is going to Aberdeen and there are some very important players in that starting XI when you look at Will Jarvis, (Liam) Burt, Mark Coyle, Sean Gannon at right back is an extremely important player for them as well.
"If any one of those were to get injured or maybe go to another club, you'd see it unravelling a bit. But for what they're doing, third full season in the league, Europe to come, top of the table, unbelievable stuff."
While losing Molloy is far from ideal, Shels have been linked with the likes of Ali Coote amid increasing investment off the pitch and ex-Dundalk striker McMillan feels its imperative they maintain their recent trend of making strong additions to the squad.
"Shels have announced investment a couple of weeks at this point so it'll be interesting to see if Damien has a few quid to spend," he said.
"But the recruitment, we see it across the league. Bohs for example brought in a lot of players and a lot of them haven't worked out. One or two have.
"We've seen it at my time at Dundalk where you make a lot of signings, some are excellent but some tail off and leave quickly.
"So it'll be interesting and in fairness to Shels, the likes of Jarvis, and Harry Wood who they had last year, they've brought in players and even with their recruitment of lads within the league like Mark Coyle etc who has gone on and performed so well, Sean Gannon has been let go by (Shamrock) Rovers and as Keith said has been such an important player.
"So their recruitment has been excellent up to now. Obviously losing Molloy is a massive blow because him and Paddy Barrett, and that back four in general, have been so solid. They're not scoring a huge amount of goals but they're built on a really solid defence.
"But I think if they can have a good window... there's money to spend but that doesn't guarantee that you get good players in.
"It'll be how Duff and Joey O'Brien have managed it to this stage and if they have - as they have done over the last two-and-a-half years - built this squad slowly, if they can add three or four good players into that mix, I think they have the strength there now to go and win the league."
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