SLIGO ROVERS will be on the brink of a first league title in 35 years if they can win in Cork this evening, although Ian Barraclough insists his side stay focused on their task one step at a time as they head to Turner’s Cross.

“The results last Monday told us what we already knew,” says the Englishman, “that St Pat’s and Drogheda will not give up. But we know that if we keep picking up points then it will be enough for us to stay at the top no matter what the other results are. It doesn’t mean we’ll go gung-ho and leave ourselves needlessly open but we’ll be focused on what we have to do.”

Rovers will again be without Alan Keane, Iarfhlaith Davoren and Danny North, while their hosts, whose aim at this stage is to finish fifth, have Gearóid Morrissey suspended, Ian Turner back from a ban and a doubt about Davin O’Neill, who has the flu.

Shamrock Rovers are on course for fourth but after seeing his players click against Dundalk last weekend, Brian Laws is determined they will finish the campaign with the same conviction. “We were excellent and set the bar for the rest of the season,” he says. “I won’t accept anybody falling under that level.” The Dubliners will be without Shane O’Connor and Colin Hawkins, while Bray are missing their Shane O’Connor and Ian Mulroy (both groin).

Waterford United, meanwhile, must beat Mervue United this evening to maintain their challenge to Limerick for automatic promotion from the first division. A draw at the RSC would keep the race for top spot mathematically alive but Limerick’s goal difference is currently better by 14 and so Pat Scully’s side would be all but assured of going up ahead of tomorrow’s game in Longford.