O'Neill relishing chance to measure Hoops against Shels

Shamrock Rovers boss Collie O'Neill is relishing the opportunity to test his side against "the best of the best" when they square up to reigning champions Shelbourne in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division on Saturday.

The Hoops are back in the division after a nine-year absence and have hit the ground running, picking up two wins from two so far.

They looked really impressive in the 6-0 destruction of Treaty United at Tallaght Stadium last Saturday evening, Jaime Thompson's hat-trick off the bench summing up the strength in depth O'Neill has at his disposal.

Rovers, who last competed in the league during the 2013/14 campaign, have caused quite a stir since re-establishing their women's team.

The Tallaght outfit swooped for some of the best players in the league over the course of the winter, with Amanda Budden, Abbie Larkin, Lia O'Leary and Jess Gargan among those who swapped Shels for Rovers.

The weekend's trip to Tolka Park will most certainly have a bit of needle - Larkin's departure left them particularly sore - but O'Neill is embracing it.

"We're looking forward to it because we want to challenge ourselves," he told RTÉ Sport.

"To challenge yourself you've got to play the best of the best and at this moment in time, Shels are the best of the best.

"If we want to get to where we want to go we've got to be competing in these games and seeing what we get out of them. We're just looking forward to the challenge."

Republic of Ireland international Larkin was withdrawn at half-time against Treaty due to a slight calf injury. She's expected to be okay to face her old side on Saturday but O'Neill has plenty of options regardless, not least academy graduate Thompson.

Her brilliant treble lit up Tallaght Stadium, with O'Neill