LOI preview: Shamrock Rovers meet injury-hit Saints in Tallaght
The four sides competing in European competitions are in action tonight as matches from later in the domestic campaign are brought forward.
Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic, Shelbourne and Drogheda United face a more hectic period now, rather than later summer, with the idea of limited league fixture around pivotal times in qualfying in Europe in July.
The scenario will be repeated again on 16 June, again to reduce their fixture list the month after.
Shamrock Rovers will be happy to have the games coming thick and fast due to excellent form as they sit two points clear at the top against of the visit of Pat's to Tallaght.
The Saints are playing in fits and starts, falling 2-1 behind to Cork City on Friday before winning the game with seconds to spare.
Injuries are undoubtedly a factor, and the enormity of the result was not lost on all in Richmond Park amid racous scenes.
Kenny will be without several players tonight.
Kian Leavy and Joe Redmond picked up injuries against Cork and will have to have late fitness tests while Barry Bagley will be suspended.
Chris Forester and Romal Palmer are our injured until mid-summer.
Kenny will have to be creative to see who joins Jamie Lennon in midfield.
Jay McClelland and Brandon Kavanagh are likely to figure somewhere across the middle of the park.
The Pat's boss has brushed away any idea of being defensive, given they are down on numbers.
"It's not even halfway through the season, I don't think you can think in those terms and we never really set up like that," Kenny said.
"It's not really our style to sit in and defend. We'll have to come up with a strategy to play because Shamrock Rovers over are in great form."
The Hoops were 3-1 winners in Waterford and have lost just once in their last 13 matches.
Stephen Bradley believes some of the best the League of Ireland has to offer will be on show.
"It should be a good game," Bradley predicted.
"Two good teams, Pat's have real quality, so it should be a really good game. Our pitch in Tallaght is always incredible, the weather is obviously still nice, so it has the makings to be a really good game.
"We've one or two knocks from Friday night, as always, that's quite normal. But other than Seán Kavanagh, everyone else is fit and available which is good. The squad is in a good place."
A struggling Shels side will host FAI Cup holders Drogs in Tolka Park having sunk to sixth in the table.
Now seven points off the leaders, the match takes added importance for the champions.
Damien Duff will return to the sideline after serving a suspension.
But Mark Coyle and Ali Coote will be banned after red cards in Friday's loss to Bohemians.
Drogheda United are still sore from a late concession to Derry City in the 1-1 draw at Sullivan and Lambe Park.
They sit three points against Shels going into this fixture. The teams played out a 2-2 draw last month and have had a host of memorable battles since Duff took over at Tolka Park.
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