Last weekend’s defeat against fellow strugglers Galway United at Finn Park certainly hurt Paul Hegarty’s men and with home games on the horizon - against Cobh Ramblers, (which will be screened live by TG4), and then UCD, these are vital times for the ‘Finnsiders.’

However, Hegarty will not be looking that far ahead and he will have a reason for optimism with Boyle and Parkhouse returning from suspension, both of whom were badly missed against Jeff Kenna’s team last Friday night.

But life for Hegarty has not been a playground this season and he will have more swings and roundabouts to deal with in Drumcondra.

Michael Funston, perhaps the most consistent Harps player over recent weeks, is now suspended for one game and David Tyrell, the loan signing from tonight’s opponents, cannot participate as part of his loan deal.

Cornelius Gallagher, Gary Beckett and Aaron Labonte remain sidelined because of injury, however, Stuart Malcolm returned last week and Davy Byrne may shake off troublesome injuries to do the same tonight.

“We didn’t play at all against Galway United and it was bitterly disappointing,” said Hegarty when interviewed. “It’s good to have the likes of Declan and Stephen back, but we’re missing a couple again, which has been the story of our season really. Shamrock Rovers have been picking up points of late but we shouldn’t be afraid.

“We did very well in the second half against them earlier in the season (in a 1-1 home result) and I’ll be expecting the same again on Friday night. It’s a massive game for us and we need to get something from it.”

Shamrock Rovers were defeated 2-1 on Tuesday evening at Bohemians, a result that took the gloss off a decent run they had put together.

Prior to that fixture, Pat Scully’s team had managed a couple of credible victories over Sligo Rovers at home before shocking Derry City at Brandywell. In both of those games, the Dubliners might have been accused of riding their luck but in each of them they absorbed a lot of pressure before sneaking late winners.

Rovers had taken 14 points from the last 18 compared to just four from their previous six games and their second-half performance at Inchicore a couple of weeks back suggested they can more than hold their own against better-placed sides when they really find their stride. The goals scored by Pádraig Almond and Tadhg Purcell have been a big factor over the last month or so.

On the injury front, captain, Aidan Price is definitely out of tonight’s game with Danny O'Connor and Darragh Maguire, both back in action but Sean O’Connor’s last-minute sending off against Bohemians means that he is banned.