Harps are on solid ground

Preview:Having seen off Dundalk on Friday night to book their place in the play-offs proper, Finn Harps take on Waterford United this evening in Ballybofey where a win would put the Donegal club in a strong position to secure a return to the Premier Division for next season.

Both sides have been regulars in this fixture over the years but, somewhat remarkably, neither has won it in nine attempts. This evening's hosts, however, have never lost the home leg and Paul Hegarty will be hoping they can maintain that record before making it one in six on the overall victory front.

"It's going to be a difficult assignment against them," he says. "They're a Premier Division team and they've only been beaten once in their last eight league matches. But we'll go into the game with confidence. There's a lot of belief and character in this team and hopefully we can get a positive result."

Harps are likely to field the same starting 11 as they did on Friday night and Waterford manager Gareth Cronin will have much the same squad he brought to Tolka Park to face Shamrock Rovers a couple of weeks ago for the last game of the club's top-flight campaign. Karl Bermingham and Daryl Kavanagh are still injured and, significantly, the club will be without striker Vinny Sullivan who is suspended.

"The mood in the camp is good as you would expect after six games unbeaten and the performances we've put in," says Cronin. "It's nice to see the spirits high and once we do our work on Tuesday night we'll know what we have to do on Friday at the RSC. I want to win both games, to be honest, but this isn't going to be a walk in the park. That said, we are the Premier Division and we have been playing at a higher level this season so hopefully that will stand to us."