Irish Premier League leaders Shamrock Rovers will be looking to get back to winning ways when they visit Shelbourne on Friday night. Shamrock Rovers currently sit at the top of the Irish Premier League standings, six points ahead of second-placed Drogheda United, while Shelbourne is fifth, nine points off the top.

Shelbourne has a record of six wins, nine draws and four losses from 19 games this season, sitting fifth with 27 points, just three points behind second-placed Drogheda. Damien Duff's side last played on May 30, drawing 1-1 with Cork City, having won just one of their previous four league games.

The Reds are the reigning Irish Premier League champions, having lifted the trophy for the 14th time last year, but they are nine points behind rivals Shamrock. Shelbourne are aware of the importance of taking all three points on Friday, having triumphed in front of their own fans in their last match, a 3-2 win over Sligo Rovers. Duff’s side have collected 16 points from 10 home league games this season, but they will be taking on Shamrock, who have the best away record in the league, with 15 points from nine games.

Shamrock come into this match after a 0-0 draw with Galway United, a match that ended the club’s five-game winning streak and consolidated its lead at the top of the table. Stephen Bradley’s side finished second in the Irish Premier League last season, but are currently in the thick of the title race, sitting top of the table with a record of 10 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses from 19 games.

Shamrock are six points ahead of second-placed Drogheda and, as mentioned above, nine points ahead of defending champions Shelbourne, so another win on Friday night would give them a significant advantage against Duff’s side. Celtic have been unbeaten since losing at home to Bohemians on April 21, winning five and drawing three of their eight games since then. The last two league games between Shamrock and Shelbourne have both ended in draws, with the last meeting at the end of April ending in a 2-2 draw.

Shelbourne predicted starting lineup:

Healy; O'Sullivan, Caffrey, Wilson, Ledwich, Coyle; Chapman, Rennie, Wood; Martin McInroy

Shamrock Rovers predicted starting lineup:

McGinty; Grant, Honohan, O'Sullivan, Lopez, Matthews; Burn, Healy, Burke; Noonan, McNiff