Kenny Shiels says his Derry side will be facing League's in-form club in Bray game

Kenny Shiels' Derry side earned league wins over Bray in March and May

Derry City manager Kenny Shiels says his side will be facing the League of Ireland's "form team" in Saturday's away game against Bray Wanderers.

Bray have moved out of the relegation places following successive wins over leaders Dundalk and Galway United.

"They are a totally different team to the side that we defeated twice earlier this season," says the Derry boss.

Harry Kenny has performed heroics for Bray since taking the manager's job after Mick Cooke's departure.

Bray were looking likely relegation candidates when Cooke resigned in April but their impressive recent run has moved them up to ninth in the 12-team table.

"They are on a high. They are not conceding goals and it's going to be a big proposition going there on Saturday night," added Shiels.

Derry on six-game unbeaten run

But Derry have also put together a six-match unbeaten run since their 5-0 home hammering by Dundalk on 1 July.

Three of those games have been draws but Derry's accumulation of points has moved them into second place in the table, three points behind the leaders, although Dundalk's European exploits means they have three games in hand.

"Some people meet me and say, 'you're not doing too badly'. I think we're probably better than that description," adds the Candystripes boss.

Shiels will again be without injured central backs Aaron Barry and Ryan McBride, who are both likely to be out for another month, while another defender Lukas Schubert could be a doubt after being bothered by a virus this week.

Saturday's match will be the first of three games in seven days for Derry in what could be a crucial period for the Candystripes' hopes of clinching a European place.

Aaron McEneff is set to agree a contract extension which will keep him at Derry until the end of the 2018 season

Derry have another away contest against fourth-placed Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday before a home game against Galway United next Friday.

"When we reach the game against Dundalk on 23 September, we will have had a period of nine away games in nine weeks. That's amazing.

"And over the last 12 weeks of the season, we have only four home game in all tournaments," added Shiels.

The Derry manager has placed a big emphasis on youth development since taking the job and youngsters Aaron McEneff, Rory Holden, Conor McDermott and Ben Doherty are all set to agree contract extensions.

McEneff is expected to agree a new 26-month deal with the three other players set to accept new three-year contracts.