Preview: Buckley rallies Rovers ahead of Harps

Sligo Rovers face Finn Harps on Saturday night in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division in Finn Park as the Bit O’ Red face their north-west rivals.

Rovers sit in third place in the table and secured two wins over Harps this year, 2-1 in Ballybofey and 1-0 in The Showgrounds.

Johnny Kenny scored his first senior goal against Harps in that Showgrounds success, while Harps earned a single-goal success in Sligo

In team news, Niall Morahan returns from suspension while Greg Bolger serves the second of a two-game ban.

Robbie McCourt has recovered from a neck problem which forced him off during the 2-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers last time out.

Colm Horgan is doubtful with a calf problem and will be tested pre-game, but the match comes too soon for Shane Blaney.

Liam Buckley: “It’s about results at this stage of the season. The race is hotting up, we don’t know if fourth is good enough or third but we do know we have to get a win to get us going. That’s what we care about on Saturday night and Finn Harps are in the exact same boat.

“It’s going to go right to the wire as expected, just like last season. Last season we were in a situation where we dug in and won games late in the season to get us fourth place.

“In the position we’re in now, which is third place and it’s important it’s remembered that we are in that position, we can look back at the end of the season on these six games and wonder did we just let it slip by or we can dig in and get the results we need.

“We’ve shown we can do it with the wins we’ve had this season. The results and some performances have not been what is needed recently and there is no one is more disappointed than us by that. We’re all fully aware of the situation in competing for the European spots and what comes with it.  

“We’re in this position with the six games, starting on Saturday night, and we’ll go to Finn Park looking to get the win. That’s what counts now.

“Robbie is back in training, as is Shane Blaney, but I don’t think he will be ready for this one. We have to check on Colm over a calf strain, while Greg is suspended. Niall Morahan comes back in which will help us and we go there with getting the win our focus and the race we’re in.”