Sligo Rovers return to league action on Friday night to take on St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park.

Rovers were 8-0 winners in the Extra.ie FAI Cup match last week over Glebe North and go into this game in sixth place in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The Saints are eight points clear of Rovers, having played a game more, and won 2-1 in the previous meeting at the Dublin venue.

Ronan Coughlan returns from suspension while Niall Morahan remains out with a knee injury. Morahan is set to be the only absentee from the squad.

Liam Buckley said: “We have a round of matches to play and we want to be very competitive in them.

“Firstly there are teams below us trying to get at us and they are winning games regularly.  We want to look up as well because there are points to play for and how we finish the year is very important for a number of reasons.

“It was nice to score some goals last week and it always does give you that lift.

“We’d like to carry that into Friday. I know most of the St Pat’s squad from my time there, they’ve done well and have added some new players too recently.

“But I’m just concerned with ourselves and getting ourselves up to speed and to a level.

“It would be good to get the result on Friday night so we can keep in that mix in that part of the table.

“It’ll be tight without doubt and it’s good to have nearly everyone available from that end.”