LOI preview: Damien Duff keen for Shels to rattle champions

After an opening week with packed stadiums the League of Ireland continues with two Dublin derbies that bring plenty of intrigue.

A total of 23,824 attended Premier Division matches last week with another 10,000 at First Division games.

With Tallaght Stadium and Turner's Cross not featuring this week, those numbers will drop, but sold out signs will be up around the country.

Shelbourne have reported their quickest sellout in nearly two decades with Shamrock Rovers making the trip to Tolka Park.

St Patrick's Athletic host Bohemians at another sold out venue in Richmond Park while Drogheda United are also at capacity when newly-promoted Drogheda United visit.

The final game of the night sees Dundalk looking for revenge from a painful FAI Cup loss last year as Galway United visit Oriel.

Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers, Tolka Park, 7.45pm

Damien Duff has told his players to seize day as the Shels boss looks for a first career win over Shamrock Rovers as a senior manager.

Both sides played out 1-1 draws last week with improvements desired after failing to reach their high standard.

Duff's side have been accused of being too defensive when facing some of the top guns in the league.

However he does not feel that is the case.

He said: "I think questions like that you’re best asking the players what we work on during the week, some people have a picture of us sitting up in a low black all week, everything we do is with the ball, looking after the ball, dominating it, if we lose it, get it back quick as possible.

"If you don’t look after it you will defend, outside of that, it’s not how the staff coach the team.

"Organically it might happen because Rovers can keep the ball for 10, 20, 30 passes, you’re naturally at times going to have to