LOI preview: Key game for Shelbourne in bid for league title as Reds face Bohemians at Dalymount Park

Shelbourne can take a giant stride towards winning the SSE Airtricity Premier Division title as they meet Dublin rivals Bohemians in a rearranged match at Dalymount Park.

Having lost top spot for the first time in months, Shels hit the summit again last Friday with a 1-0 success in Dundalk as Derry City were beaten by Galway United.

That seemed like a real turning point in the title race as once again Derry were undone by their own inconsistency and weakness.

Damien Duff's side have long held this game in hand since it was postponed in June as a fall-back option if they were to lose their advantage.

Now they make the short trip to Phibsborough knowing they can lead by six points with just seven matches remaining.

Bohs eased their relegation worries with a 2-1 victory in another Dublin derby with Shamrock Rovers last Sunday.

In doing so the Hoops look to have relinquished their challenge with their dominance of the competition set to end with four in-a-row.

The Gypsies are unlikely to make a European push given their poor season, but this is another chance for Alan Reynolds to reduce the pressure having failed to produce enough victories since taking the job six months ago.

Last week was just a third win in his time in the league and maintaining momentum before next week’s FAI Cup quarter-final with UCD is just as important.

The main focus is on Shels as they look to win an unlikely league title in just their third season under Duff.

In a major lift, Sean Boyd returns from injury. Aidan O’Brien has proved a difference maker since joining in the transfer window and is likely to keep his place.

He bagged the winner in Oriel Park last week.

The biggest rivalry in Dublin is the cross-city clash of Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers, yet the