Shamrock Rovers vs. Bray Wanderers

Shamrock Rovers can move a step closer to a top half finish while Bray Wanderers can effectively secure their top flight status for next season when the pair meet in a rearranged fixture at Tolka Park on Tuesday night (kick-off 8pm). The game has been re-fixed for this date after the original fixture clashed with a Republic of Ireland under-21 game that Rovers had two players, Padraig Amond and Simon Madden, involved in.

Rovers' winless run since the end of August has badly hampered their aim of ending the campaign in the top six - though they currently lie just three points behind that spot which is occupied by Sligo Rovers. Their latest setback came just last Saturday when they were narrowly defeated by relegation threatened Cobh Ramblers - a result that manager Pat Scully is hoping to bounce back from. “Last Saturday's defeat was an opportunity missed as clubs around us also lost over the weekend,” Scully said. “Hopefully, we can pick up three points against Bray and get closer to the teams above us.”

Rovers have won just one of their last eight outings in all competitions. However, here, they will fancy netting their first victory since beating Cork 3-0 at home on 29 August against a Bray side that has lost their last four games on the trot. Reversals to Galway United, Saint Patrick’s Athletic, Finn Harps and Bohemians have seen Wanderers dumped out of the FAI Cup and still not completely out of demotion danger.

Still nine points clear of the drop zone, however, they should be safe - though another loss here will leave them still looking over their shoulder with five games remaining. Bray’s last win also came on 29 August when they came from behind to beat UCD 2-1 at the Carlisle Grounds. On top of that winless streak, they make the trip to North Dublin looking for their first away win in the Premier Division since the end of July when they took maximum points in extremely controversial circumstances in Cobh.

Team News: Shamrock Rovers must wait on midfielder Joseph Ndo, who missed the trip to Cobh at the weekend with a thigh strain. However, captain Aidan Price, winger John Martin and striker Tadhg Purcell have all shaken off knocks. To add to the positives, Darragh Maguire comes back into contention having served an automatic one-match ban for a red card against Bohemians. Bray, meanwhile, travel to the capital with mixed team news. Ex-Hoops defender Derek Pender returns after a one-match ban, however, midfielder Daryl Robson will now serve a suspension after being sent-off in last Friday’s clash with Bohs at Dalymount Park. Centre-half Kevin Doherty is also a doubt, however, he is expected to be fit despite picking up a nasty eye injury in that game.