Smarting from the 4-1 hammering inflicted on them by UCD last week, Bray Wanderers are desperate for a win. Achieving that goal this weekend is, however, made all the more difficult considering league champions Cork City ride into town.
Bray are second from bottom with just two points from four games. However, many at the club feel the position is not a true reflection of their performances and hope to rectify that by catching Cork off-guard at the Carlisle Grounds.
"Last week was really disappointing as we'd been playing quite well up until then," says Bray's Australian goalkeeper Chris O'Connor.
"Now we need to put things right, starting tomorrow against the champions. We need to scrap what happened last weekend from the mind and get back to playing well like we know we can.
"Of course Cork are a good side, but so are we," he adds. "We wont be sitting back watching them play their game, we'll be planning attacks of our own and looking to get at them.
"Who knows what'll happen and if we win our game in hand against Longford then we'll be straight back up the table. It's still early days."
Club captain Jody Lynch continues to struggle with an ankle injury while full-back Stephen Gifford is troubled with a calf strain.
Mark McNulty continues in the Cork goal although Michael Devine (knee) hopes to be fit for the Setanta Cup final with Drogheda on Saturday week.
League leaders Drogheda United will be without new signing Shane Barrett for up to a month. The attacker damaged ankle ligaments in Tuesday's 1-0 Setanta semi-final win over Linfield in Belfast.
Declan O'Brien and Keith Fahey are almost fit again after respective calf and knee injuries but, with one eye on the Setanta Cup final, manager Paul Doolin will not risk them at home to UCD tomorrow.
Dublin City are still without injured quartet Ger McCarthy, Mark Rooney, Ben Whelehan and Paul Crowley for the game with Shelbourne at Tolka Park.
"We've just go to get on with it," says City manager Dermot Keely. "We were without the same four against Sligo (0-0) last week and we performed quite well.
"We know that we have to be at our best and get in amongst Shelbourne if we are to get anything from the match and that's the same with or without the injured guys.
"Shels will be red hot favourites to win and I accept that is the case. We're not in the same league in terms of budget and we just have to make up the shortfall through sheer endeavour and application."
Pat Fenlon has injury concerns over Ollie Cahill and Bobby Ryan while Richie Baker has an ankle injury and is extremely doubtful.
Bohemians player-manager Gareth Farrelly (thigh) and defender Jason McGuinness (back) face late fitness tests if they are to play against St Patrick's Athletic at Dalymount Park.
Conor Powell has caught the eye in training lately and could slot into the side should either fail to prove their fitness. Fergal Harkin is also available having overcome a groin injury.
Farrelly was disappointed not to have clinched a point in Derry last week. "We had a very good first half but failed to take our chances," he said.
"They probably had the better of the second half and took their goal well, but I thought we deserved at least a point out of it."
St Patrick's welcome Stephen Brennan back to the squad after a bout of flu while Stephen Caffrey continues to struggle with a groin strain.
Finally, David McKeon will referee the Setanta Cup final at Tolka Park on April 22nd. Damien Hancock is the fourth official while John McDowell and David Redfearn run the lines.
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