There seems to be no halt in Dundalk's slip towards the lower division. With four straight losses recently, they are now just one spot from the bottom on goal difference alone. The prospect of playing host to Shelbourne, with just four games remaining, couldn't have come at a worse time either, although manager Jim McLoughlin insists the mood is still positive around Oriel Park.

"There's nobody going around with long faces anyway," he says. "We've put everything into our last couple of games and when you don't get the results there's not a whole lot you can do about it. But we're still in there and that's the way we have to be thinking."

Positive thoughts will rarely win games, however, and with Shelbourne's sights still firmly set on Europe, this will be far from easy. McLoughlin still has his full squad, except for the long-term injury to Brian Byrne, and David Crawley showed some of their fighting spirit in pulling one back against Bohemians last time out.

For Shelbourne, who did well to draw with champions St Patrick's on Monday, the injury list continues to grow. Manager Dermot Keely admits his hair is "falling out in tufts" as he's forced to bring in younger squad members all the time with the likes of Declan Geoghegan, Dave Campbell and Mick Neville still out of action. Owen Heery's suspension adds to their plight.

"It's a lot of pressure on everyone to have to bring in new kids all the time, but they're all managing very well," says Keely. "It's hard to be without six or seven players with such important games remaining, but we're still playing alright and that's the important thing."

Even with Dundalk struggling, Keely knows that there are no major gaps in the league, and Bray Wanderers provided proof of that with their surprisingly easy FAI Cup semi-final last weekend. The home advantage, however, won't be enough to carry Dundalk and Shelbourne have every chance of securing their third spot.

Last two seasons: 1997/98: Dundalk 0 Shelbourne 1; Shelbourne 2 Dundalk 0; Dundalk 2 Shelbourne 1. 98/99: Dundalk 1 Shelbourne 2; Shelbourne 1 Dundalk 2.

Recent league form: Dundalk: DLLLL; Shelbourne: WWWLD

Leading scorers: Dundalk: Ward (four); Shelbourne: Sheridan (ten).

Betting: Home: 7/4; Draw: 9/4; Away: 5/4.

Referee: U Feighery (Dublin).

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.