As Shamrock Rovers struggle once again to field a team of recognisable professionals, their fortunes took another minor dive yesterday with the news that league leaders Shelbourne are at full strength for this evening's premier division clash in Inchicore.

Rovers have had a succession of problems with injury and suspension over the past few weeks, and manager Noel Synnott admits that Keith Doyle may well end up starting tonight despite having resumed training only in the last few days after six weeks on the sidelines with a medial-ligament injury.

The former St Patrick's player is needed so badly because Paul Malone, who has played at left back for the last couple of weeks, has a hamstring problem, and so becomes the latest name to be added to the club's lengthy list of absentees.

With Trevor Molloy suspended, Liam Kelly obliged to rest a career-threatening groin problem for the remainder of the season and both Russell Payne and Jason McGuinness suffering from hip problems, Synnott admits that anyone who looks vaguely fit is almost certain to feature.

It's a grim situation for a club that could badly do with taking something from tonight's game.

"The only thing you can say," Synnott says, "is that, with it being Shelbourne, when you tell the lads to go out there and really give it a go they will. But it's a difficult situation, and while you never want to admit to considering relegation a real possibility you'd have to say now that it could be on the cards.

"It's crucial for us to get a few points over the next couple of weeks, because, if we can do that, then as the games run out the pressure will be very much on Dublin City again. But as it stands, after last week's loss to them, things are a bit too close for comfort."

They are made no better by the news Shelbourne's Joseph Ndo has recovered much more quickly than anticipated from the groin problem that hampered him during last week's UEFA Cup game against Lille.

"He's had an injection which seems to have helped him a lot," said manager Pat Fenlon. "Sometimes it doesn't work at all, but in his case it seems to have done the trick and he's available to start both this and the game next week in Lille."

Drogheda United, meanwhile, will look to maintain the pressure on Shelbourne by beating Waterford at home, but manager Paul Doolin expects a tight game.

"They beat us 2-0 in the opening game of the season, and while we didn't really play that night we know that it could go either way. We haven't played particularly well in the last three or four weeks, but the loss to Longford was our first in 11 games so I'm certainly not criticising anybody.

"The bottom line, though, is that if you want to be up there at the end then you have to look to win your home games, and so that's what we'll be doing."

Doolin has Barry Molloy and Aidan Lynch back from suspension. Molloy looks certain to return to the starting line-up, while Lynch could feature for Danny O'Leary, who, along with Alan Reilly, is doubtful.

Waterford will travel without Pat Purcell (ankle) and Ben Whelehan (hamstring).

Gareth Farrelly will start on the bench for Bohemians against Longford this evening, with the player/manager insisting he is still well short of full match fitness.

The visitors have Barry Ferguson and John Martin back from injury for the game, and Alan Mathews expects one or both to be involved at some point.