'What will be will be' in Derry - Bradley focused on hungry Hoops ahead of League of Ireland grand finale

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley insists his team can't afford to think about events in Derry as they go in search of an unlikely League of Ireland Premier Division title triumph.

The Candystripes and Shelbourne looked set to make it a two-horse race from a long way out but their form tailed off, allowing the four-in-a-row champions to get back in contention, despite winning only 16 of their 35 games to date.

Ahead of the grand finale on Friday night, Derry are out of the picture and will have one eye on next week's FAI Cup final as they host Shels (Live on RTÉ2/Player), who can claim a first league crown since 2006 with victory.

Lose or draw and Damien Duff's side will open the door for the second-placed Hoops to sneak it by beating Waterford (Live on RTÉ News/Player).

"There's nothing we can do. We can't affect it," Bradley told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue on events at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

"There's no point in bothering ourselves with that game. What will be, will be up there.

"It's about us focusing on trying to beat Waterford. If we do that, we give ourselves a chance, but if we don't do that, it doesn't matter what happens elsewhere. So we just have to focus on what's in front of us.

"It's obviously exciting for everyone involved in the league to have it go down to the the final game. And we just see what happens."

In theory, Keith Long's Blues have little to play for other than spoiling the party, but they did win 3-1 at Dublin 24 earlier in the year, and were only beaten 2-1, twice, at home.

Rovers must plan without defenders Sean Hoare (injured) and Daniel Cleary (suspended) while Danny Mandriou will undergo a scan on a hamstring strain to determine whether he can take any part in the final game of