The visitors have improved steadily recently, but they will do well to continue their revival at Tolka Park where Shelbourne will be looking to extend their unbeaten league record to 15 games.
Remarkably, no one in the home side has emerged as the main source of goals during that run and, despite being the leading marksman with three, Gary Haylock may start on the bench with Dessie Baker retaining his place in attack.
In midfield, Pat Fenlon will be hoping to shrug off a bout of flu, but Declan Geoghegan is unlikely to recover from a combination of groin and calf strains to help out in defence.
Gavin Dykes, though, would settle for an injury list that long. The Harps boss comes to town with James Mulligan (his top scorer) definitely out due to a neck strain, Trevor Scanlon laid up due to a hamstring and Paddy Mcgrenaghan, Jonathon Minnock and Johnny Kenny all vaguely doubtful.
Dykes, however, reckons he's fit enough to start a game again himself and so he will come back in for Scanlon.
Last two seasons: 1998/99: Shelbourne 0 Harps 0, Harps 3 Shelbourne 2, Shelbourne 2 Harps 0. 99/00: Harps 0 Shelbourne 1.
Recent league form: Shelbourne: WDDWW; Harps: LWLWD.
Leading scorers: Shelbourne: Haylock (three); Harps: Mulligan (seven), Speak (four).
Betting: Home: 4/7, Draw: 12/5, Away: 9/2.
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).
Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.
