Preview: AZ Alkmaar vs. Shelbourne - prediction, team news, lineups

Shelbourne's upcoming assignment in their debut campaign in the Conference League takes them to the Netherlands, where they face AZ Alkmaar at AZ Stadion on matchday four.

Both clubs are outside the top 24 positions with three matchdays remaining in the league phase, but the Dutch side will be optimistic about their chances of climbing the 36-team table after Thursday's match.

Match preview

AZ’s results across all competitions since mid-August have been in clusters: four wins, two draws, two losses, five victories and three defeats, all occurring consecutively.

The Cheese Farmers’ latest setback was a 3-1 loss at Heerenveen in the Eredivisie, missing the chance to close the gap on second-placed Feyenoord, who lost their third top-flight match in four gameweeks.

Maarten Martens will hope to find solutions to recent disappointments, which include a 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace in the previous round, leaving the Alkmaar team in 27th.

That position is well below what the Dutch club expected, as they would have at least aimed to finish in the top 24 at the start of the competition.

That remains within reach, considering they are only outside the top 24 on goal difference and just three points behind the coveted top-eight spots.

Having had no success on their travels in Europe — losing 4-0 to AEK Larnaca and 3-1 to Palace — a return to Alkmaar, where they beat Slovan Bratislava on matchday two, could be the tonic for a second Conference League win.

Visiting Shelbourne have had to endure a winless start to their debut appearance in Europe’s third-tier club competition, failing to score across the opening three rounds.

Joey O'Brien’s team held Hacken to a 0-0 draw in the first round, offering some optimism, but defeats to Shkendija and Drita have followed that decent start.

Travelling to the Netherlands represents their most challenging fixture on paper so far, and it remains to be seen if the 14-time Irish champions can inflict further misery on their high-profile hosts.

The Shels’ form heading into the fixture, however, suggests otherwise, given the Dublin-based club’s inability to win three of their most recent four matches across all competitions, failing to score in continental defeats by Shkendija and Drita, either side of a league draw against St Patrick’s to end the Irish top-flight season.

A shock victory in Alkmaar could take them into the top 24 in the Conference League, but that outcome depends on the Reds showing their best defensively and ending their drought in front of goal to stun the Eredivisie outfit.

AZ Alkmaar Conference League form:

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

Shelbourne Conference League form:

Shelbourne form (all competitions):

Team News

Having missed AZ's loss at Heerenveen due to suspension, Wouter Goes is set to return to the line-up for the visit of Shelbourne.

Although the Cheese Farmers came through that fixture unscathed, Martens’s team will have to navigate Thursday's contest without Jordy Clasie (ankle), Mexx Meerdink and Denso Kasius, while Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro and Ro-Zangelo Daal will be evaluated.

Troy Parrott might have scored for the third consecutive game for club and country, but it did not prevent a defeat for De Kaasboeren against Heerenveen; however, the Irishman hopes to extend that positive streak against a club from his homeland to open his continental account for this season.

Shelbourne are likely to be without Conor Kearns (hamstring), Sam Bone (calf) and Sean Boyd (calf) due to injury.

James Norris is suspended for Shelbourne following his red card after 16 minutes in the defeat at the hands of Drita.

Although the Shels have yet to score in Europe, Harry Wood, Ademipo Odubeko and John Martin netted nine, eight and seven goals during the league campaign, and all three aim to play decisive roles on Thursday.

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Zoet; Dijkstra, Goes, Penetra, De Wit; Koopmeiners, Smit; Patati, Mijnans, Sadiq; Parrott

Shelbourne possible starting lineup:

Speel; Mbeng, Barrett, McInroy, Ledwidge; Henry-Francis, Coyle, Lunney; Coote, Wood, Odubeko