"We're playing the best team in Ireland in this game," said Pat Dolan earlier this week. "It's painful for me to have to say that, but I just can't see anything to stop them winning the league at this stage, so I take my hat off to Dermot (Keely) and Alan (Matthews) for all that they've achieved at the club over the last few months."

Quite why St Patrick's weren't up there challenging for more than the crumbs from the championship table is a matter for lengthy debate, but if you're looking for an explanation that's pocket-sized, statistical and over-simplified, then look no further than the club's record in its various Dublin derbies this season.

On the way to picking up the title last April, the Inchicore club took seven points from its three meetings with Shelbourne, but this season it has been a very different story. In nine games against Dublin opposition, St Patrick's have drawn five and lost the last four.

They could well improve on that dismal record this evening, but the fact that they have dropped so many points in those games reflects badly on a team that began the season with serious title aspirations.

Dolan could be better fixed for derby number 10, with Eddie Gormley, Barry Prenderville, Paul Donnelly and Colin Hawkins missing from his squad for what is still a very important game for both clubs.

"It'll be tough, but there's still a place in Europe for us to aim at, so I know that everybody will be up for it," says Dolan, although after the slagging match that's been going on this week, one suspects that the various directors will be up for it more than their players.

Keely expressed his annoyance yesterday with the comments made by St Patrick's Athletic president Tim O'Flaherty earlier in the week when he remarked that "they seem to think that there's only one way of doing things and that if anybody decides to do something differently then it's not for the good of football".

Keely went on to endorse the position of his chairman Gary Brown by calling on the FAI to take the money said to be on offer from the Government rather than pressing ahead with Eircom Park.

On the field Keely also has a few problems for this afternoon's game, with Pat Scully (calf) likely to be replaced by Dave Campbell, Paul Doolin (ankle) possibly set to be replaced by Carel Van Der Velden, and Steve Williams still highly doubtful due to gastro-enteritis. Declan Geoghegan is fit again, but with Mark Hutchison having done pretty well in his absence he may have to settle for a place on the bench today.

Last two seasons: 1998/99: Shelbourne 0 St Patrick's 1, St Patrick's 2 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 1 St Patrick's 1; 99/00: St Patrick's 1 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 1 St Patrick's 0.

Recent league form: St Patrick's: DLWDD; Shelbourne: DDWWW.

Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Hallows (seven); Shelbourne: S Geoghegan and Fenlon (seven apiece).

Betting: Home: 7/4, Draw: 2/1, Away: 5/4.

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).