By Chris Ashmore

Finn Harps may be in serious relegation bother – but team boss Paul Hegarty has been around long enough to know that there is no point in any panic buttons being pressed.

Harps are in a real battle for their lives and are locked into an epic struggle with four teams trying to avoid relegation in a season that sees three going down in Europe’s “League of Death.”

Last week’s 2-0 home defeat against Galway United sent shock waves around Finn Park and left Hegarty under even more pressure. Harps have now won just once in their last 17 league outings.

But with 13 games to play, there are still 39 points up for grabs, and Harps have some crucial six-pointers against Cobh and UCD at  home.

On Friday, Harps travel to Tolka Park hoping to kick-start things again as they take on a hot-and-cold Shamrock Rovers. Harps last draw came against Rovers in May. Last weekend, Rovers shocked high-flying Derry City with a 1-0 win at the Brandywell, but Hegarty will be hoping that his side can cause an upset and put in a decent display which yields some sort of result.

“It’s going to be very difficult. Rovers have done well lately, drawing with St. Pat’s and beating Derry. They are a big, strong, physical side. We know what we have to do but it will be hard. We just have to keep ploughing away,” he said.

Harps must plan without the suspended Michael Funston and David Tyrell (who can’t play under a deal done with Rovers when he came to Harps) but Declan Boyle and Stephen Parkhouse return from suspension. Kick-off at Tolka is 7.45 pm.