Shelbourne face Kilkenny City at Tolka Park tonight but their manager Dermot Keely is fretting about the lack of firepower in his team.

Shels scored more than one goal for the first time in ten competitive games this season when they beat St. Patrick's Athletic with two unanswered strikes last week at Richmond Park - but since then they have lost Gary Haylock, who has returned north of the border.

"We need a strong, proven goal scorer who has presence in the opposing penalty area," conceded Keely. "I'd love to recruit a player from the Eircom League but they just are not available.

"So, I've already sent out word to contacts in England and Scotland and we'll see what comes back. But you've got to be lucky when it comes to signing players from outside Ireland because many arrive here with inflated reputations yet prove to be very ordinary."

Shels go into the game without the Geoghegan brothers, Stephan and Declan, and Jim Crawford is also missing due to injury.

Kilkenny are chasing their second successive win on the road after beating Galway two weeks ago at Terryland Park.

Manager Pat Byrne could have Greg Costello and Tommy Byrne back to fitness, which will give him a welcome selection headache.