Following the release of Fontaines D.C.'s lauded fourth album Romance last Friday, the Irish band are gearing up for a big week on both the Irish and UK charts – largely powered by physical sales.

Speaking to Music Week, Lawrence Montgomery – managing director of the Rough Trade record stores in the UK – revealed that, across "limited variants, release week live shows and 'natural' week one demand", Romance is expected to be the retailer's "biggest ever first week ship out".

Jon Tolley of Banquet Records in Kingston, on the outskirts of London, also told the outlet that he predicted a massive week for Romance: 

"[O]ur shop is built on bands like Fontaines D.C.," he stated. "We'll sell a four-figure number of that quite easily."

Of course, Fontaines D.C. also find themselves at the centre of yet another high-profile chart battle this week, with Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet having been released the same day as Romance.

The American star scored a combined total of 12 weeks at No.1 on the UK's Singles Chart earlier this year, with her hit singles 'Please Please Please' and 'Espresso'.

Alexandre Pipieri of Deezer told Music Week that Fontaines D.C. "could dominate physical sales", but said that "Sabrina Carpenter will most likely lead in number of streams" thanks to her "more pop-oriented audience. Let the battle begin!”