FOOTBALLERS, by the nature of the game, require thick skins, especially when visiting former clubs. Dave Campbell, the classy Shelbourne centre hall, is more self-assured than most, and thus seems almost to be relishing the prospect of his return to Richmond Park - home of his boyhood dreams and his best footballing years, so far.

Campbell would be seriously understating things if he said tonight's game was just another game. It isn't, least of all for the 27 year old from Ballyfermot.

Born to play for St Patrick's Athletic, you might say, the former Bohemians and Huddersfield player has already had plenty of the Judas taunts since his £20,000 close season move - a record for a transfer between National League clubs - from St Patrick's, with whom he played for four years. Both in a personal sense, and in the greater scheme of things, it is a big game.

This, Campbell accepts, is the second leg of a crunch week for Shelbourne, with a daunting trip to leaders Derry City to follow next Saturday.

"We could be 10 points behind by Saturday night, or we could be one point behind," he states. "There'd still be 13 games left, but it would take a blow up from Derry for us to catch them. It'll say a lot about us this week, whether we have real title credentials or not."

Derry, much like St Patrick's last season, have pulled away in mid season with an astonishing run of 25 points out of 27.

"They're in a similar position to Pat's at this stage last season. They don't really have to beat their main challengers any more. If they draw against them and win their games against the rest, they're in the driving seat."

Campbell, a good reader of the game, strong in the air and in the tackle, and a good striker of the ball, has added another string to his bow by switching to and from midfield in Shelbourne's 12 game unbeaten run.

But despite their own good form, Shelbourne have some catching up to do, starting at his old haunt of Richmond Park.

St Patrick's Athletic have themselves recorded restorative Cup and league wins under new manager Pat Dolan in 1997 AB (After Brian), with Campbell's good friend Eddie Gormley (the match winner in both games) refreshed, fit, hungry and seemingly launching a personal crusade for the remainder of the season.

St Patrick's, as he knows only too well, are the nearest thing there is to an irresistible home force, having lost just twice in the last 28 months and 41 league games at Richmond Park. Added to which, says Campbell, "apart from the Cup final replay, I can't remember losing a match against Shels with Pat's."

Unfortunately for Campbell, the trend has been maintained in three meetings this season (League Cup, League and President's Cup final), and so one has to go back over three years, and eight league games, since. Shelbourne overcame their Inchicore bugbears.

"The thing that Pat's liked about playing against Shelbourne was that the Tolka pitch was always fabulous. The way they knocked it around almost suited Pat's, and they used to have and I like to think they don't have it any more, with (Brian) Floodie, and myself and (Pat) Scullier - a little bit of a soft centre."

"You used to think that if you really had them under pressure, or you'd score off a corner or a free in the last minute of the first half, you'd get them. I'd like to think that's gone from Shels now. It remains to be seen."

Campbell was more adept than most at exploiting this, his effectiveness at set pieces in the opposition area contributing to a haul of six goals last season - three of them against Shelbourne.

In another irony, Campbell's return to Richmond Park will constitute his first visit there as an away player since he made his League debut at the ground for Bohemians on New Year's Day 1989. But then again, his career has been inextricably linked with St Patrick's, and it seems as if it was always destined to be this way, ever since he began watching his father Jimmy play for the club in the 1970s.

"I made my League of Ireland debut against Pat's; my last game for Bohs was against Pat's; I scored in the last game at. Harold's Cross for Pat's and I scored in the first game back at Richmond Park for Pat's.

It is partly because of all this, coupled with a rather one sided version of his acrimonious and protracted departure from the champions during the season, which has seen him emerge as public enemy number one in the eyes of some St Patrick's supporters.

Campbell rejects the charge that he was disloyal or mercenary, maintaining that he gave four of his best years to St Patrick's - including last year, the best he has ever known in his career.

"I'll always have great memories from last season, and I'll always have many close friends amongst the St Pat's supporters and the team.

"I really am looking forward to it. People say `you'll be nervous'. Certainly the reception from the crowd holds no fears for me. The only fear I have is that Pat's are such a good team that it's going to be a very tough game.