In their match against Bohemians, Shelbourne were reduced to 10 men when captain Mark Coyle received a red card in the 35th minute after mis-controlling a pass and fouling Dayle Rooney in the penalty area, and they were further diminished to nine men when Alistair Coote was dismissed six minutes from time.

The defending champions' title defense has encountered difficulties, with the team drawing three, losing three, and winning only one of their last seven matches, although they remain just seven points behind league leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Head coach Damien Duff is likely concerned that his squad has failed to score in three of their past four games, and their tally of 18 goals in the league positions them as the second-lowest scoring side in the division.

Shelbourne have not maintained a clean sheet in their last seven matches, conceding 11 goals overall, though they have allowed just one goal in each of their most recent three outings.

The Reds' home form at Tolka Park has been inconsistent, with victories in two of their four most recent games there, alongside one draw and one loss, and they failed to win their three games prior at the venue.

For Drogheda United, they were denied a win against Derry City after conceding a 90th-minute equalizer, and they can have little to argue about given their lack of significant chances created in the final third.

The Drogs have been defensively vulnerable lately, conceding 10 goals across their past five games.

Manager Kevin Doherty has faced Shelbourne three times this season, suffering a 2-0 loss in the President of Ireland's Cup final on February 7, securing a 1-0 league win on March 7, and drawing 2-2 in their second league encounter on April 18.

Doherty's team arrives at Tolka Park with just one victory in their last seven matches, having drawn four of those.

The visitors are winless in their last three away games, with two defeats, but they previously won three of their four road matches.

With Coyle suspended due to his red card, Sam Bone may slot into Shelbourne's back three alongside Sean Gannon and Kameron Ledwidge.

John O'Sullivan, Jonathan Lunney, and Kerr McInroy delivered strong defensive performances from midfield in their last game and are likely to start again.

Ademipo Odubeko and Harry Wood have contributed six of the team's 18 league goals this season and could form a partnership up front.

Drogheda will likely be without attacker Darragh Markey and striker Joshua Thomas, so Warren Davis may lead the line, supported by Thomas Oluwa and Douglas James-Taylor.

The absence of midfielder Paul Doyle might prompt Doherty to deploy a double pivot of Luke Heeney and Ryan Brennan in front of centre-backs Elicha Ahui, Conor Keeley, and James Bolger.

Shelbourne possible starting lineup:

Kearns; Gannon, Bone, Ledwidge; Caffrey, O'Sullivan, Lunney, McInroy, Norris; Odubeko, Wood

Drogheda United possible starting lineup:

Dennison; Ahui, Keeley, Bolger; Lambe, Heeney, Brennan, Kane; Oluwa, James-Taylor; Davis