Bohs facing 'David v Goliath battle' against Shamrock Rovers

Champions Shamrock Rovers will be hoping to continue their impressive start of three wins and a draw when they face Bohemians in Tallaght Stadium at 7.05pm tonight.

By contrast, Bohs picked up just their first point of the new campaign last week.

The Hoops won their derby meeting with Shelbourne 4-0 last Friday while their fiercest rivals drew at home to St Patrick’s Athletic.

Ciaran Kilduff (broken metatarsal), Conor Winn (back) and Stephen O’Donnell (knee surgery) remain out of the Hoops squad through injury.

Conor Powell and Gary McCabe are both suspended.

Goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse comes into the squad after he received permission to work in Ireland last week.

For Bohs, Keith Ward (calf) and Danny Joyce (groin) are back to full training and may be fit for selection. Flu is continuing to affect members of the squad.

Luke Byrne has returned to training after being out for two weeks but Keith Murray and Andy Mulligan are currently laid low.

Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Kenny said: “Derby games are always a test - there usually isn’t much in them and they are often decided by just one goal.

“We will take confidence from our 4-0 win over Shelbourne last week, but we don’t underestimate anyone in this league, especially not in a derby game.”

Bohemians boss Aaron Callaghan is in no doubt about the size of the task tonight.

“This is a David v Goliath battle,” he said. “It used to be David v David. Look at their five strikers to our three.

“Each of them is on three times the pay of our highest paid and they have all won honours in the league.”