BEATING ARGUABLY the best team in the league at the moment is the mission for St Patrick’s Athletic’s tonight if they’re to get their title charge back on track.

A shock 3-2 defeat at bottom side Bray Wanderers last week saw St Patrick’s lose top spot in the table.

In-form Sligo Rovers, who’ve won their last four league games to move up to fourth place, visit Richmond Park so bouncing back will not be easy for the hosts.

“I watched Sligo play Shamrock Rovers midweek and they were very impressive,” said St Patrick’s manager Pete Mahon of Sligo’s reaching the EA Sports League Cup final.

“As a team they’ve got better as the season has gone on and they’re probably the best side in the league at the moment.

“Bray was a disappointing result, but we’ve moved on and put last week’s game behind us.

We’ve been in the top two for most of the season – we’re still second – but we know we’ll really have to be up for this one.”

Mahon waits on captain Damian Lynch and striker Paul Byrne, both of whom have ankle injuries, though winger Ryan Guy returns from suspension.

Joseph Ndo, an integral reason for Sligo’s good form this year, is a major doubt tonight as the ex-Cameroon international struggles to shake off the calf strain that sidelined him midweek.

Fellow midfielder John Russell is available following a head injury, but respective Achilles tendon and wrist injuries have ruled both defender Mauro Almeida and goalkeeper Richard Brush out for the remainder of the season.