FAI National League Previews

Today

Bray Wanderers v Waterford UTD (7.30)

Last year's promoted sides come up against each other at a time when both could do with a win to steady the nerves and consolidate their positions.

Waterford, in particular, need to end a run of five games without a win and they should at least be close to full strength after a couple of weeks chopping and changing due to injuries.

Joe Harkin (broken toe) remains a problem but Robert Griffin got through a half of last week's game against Derry without too many problems and Dave Smith is ready to make his debut for Tommy Lynch's side.

The Dubliner won't be the last signing the club make this season, with Lynch insisting that, having had an offer for an unnamed premier division club's captain turned down this week, he will continue to look at ways of strenthening his panel.

Bray could be better-placed, with Bo McKeever, Jason Byrne and John Ryan all doubtful. However, after delaying the return of Graham Cassin and Barry O'Connor until they got a reserve game under their belts last week, Pat Devlin now has the two of them to call on and the chances are that he will.

Last season: Waterford 0 Bray 3, Bray 0 Waterford 1, Waterford 1 Bray 3.

Recent league form: Bray: LWWDL; Waterford: LDDLL.

Leading scorers: Bray: Byrne (3); Waterford: Dully (2).

Betting: Home: 6/5, Draw: 2/1, Away: 3/1. Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).

Tomorrow

Cork City v Finn Harps (2.0)

Gareth Cronin is the main doubt as the leaders look for their eighth consecutive win, with the fullback failing to train this week because of the knee injury that kept him out of the game in Sligo last Saturday.

Dave Hill is out due to a death in his family so Derek Coughlan comes straight back in at the heart of the defence. Brian Barry Murphy is likely to continue at left back and Patsy Freyne is likely to play in midfield if Cronin doesn't make it.

Nothing else is likely to change too much as Dave Barry sticks as close as possible to a winning formula.

Despite the remarkable run of success, Barry is determined not to get carried away. "I remember when Damien Richardson was here a few seasons back we were something like 12 points ahead at Christmas and ended up finishing in mid-table so I won't get too excited just yet, but there's definitely a buzz around the club at the moment and we're looking forward to every game."

Harps boss Charlie McGeever says: "We'd probably have to step up our game a bit and they'd have to come down a notch or two if we were to win this but, at least after last week's result, we're going down there with a realistic chance of getting something out of it and we haven't done so badly there over the last few years."

McGeever has everybody available and, while he may juggle the midfield slightly, the team will be little changed from the one that beat Shamrock Rovers last weekend.

Last season: Harps 2 Cork 1, Cork 3 Harps 1, Harps 1 Cork 2.

Recent league form: Cork: WWWWW; Harps: DDWDW.

Leading scorers: Cork: Cahill (5), Dobbs (3); Harps: Mulligan (4).

Betting: Home: 4/9, Draw: 5/2, Away: 7/1. Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).

Derry City v Bohemians (3.15)

IT'S been six years since the Dubliners won at the Brandywell but they'll at least go there with some real hope after getting their first league win of the season against Dundalk last Sunday.

Bohemians are joined for the journey north by newly signed goalkeeper Stehen Henderson but Michael Dempsey should be fit to play despite his collision with Peter Withnell last time out.

Graham O'Hanlon is also carrying a knock but should be in contention and Peter Hanrahan is finally back in with a chance of starting a first-team game after returning from a long-term groin injury.

Derry are without Michael McHugh, who came off soon after scoring at Waterford last week with an achilles tendon strain. Michael Kelly came on for him and may retain his pace as Felix Healy reverts to a 4-4-2 formation that is led at the front by Liam Coyle and Floyd Gilmour.

Healy says last week's first-half performance was as good as City have performed this season but the second half was almost as poor as they have played.

He won't need to be told how important it is for the Candystripes to achieve consistency if they are maintain a respectable position in the table.

Last season: Derry 1 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 1 Derry 0, Derry 1 Bohemians 0.

Recent league form: Derry: WDDLW; Bohemians: LLLLW.

Leading scorers: Derry: McHugh and L Coyle (3); Bohemians: Swan (3).

Betting: Home: 8/11, Draw: 9/4, Away: 100/30. Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).

First Division

It's been another busy week down at St Mel's Park, where they've welcoming their third manager of the season, Joey Malone replacing James Coll after the Scotsman vacated the hot seat.

Coll, who says he found the demands of playing, managing the team, working and raising a young family hard to bear, will continue as a player but Malone, who is familiar with many of the players, having allowed the Dublin-based members of the squad to train with Aer Rianta, will be running the show tonight when the team travels up the road to Longford.

Adrian Carberry, who punctured a lung recently and is likely to be out for another month, is the only player missing from Athlone's panel, with Paul McGee expected to have shaken off a knee problem in time to play. Keith Colsh is expected to fill in for Carberry again in midfield.

Longford will be missing Shay Zellor, who received a knock to his calf last week, and Wesley Byrne is down with the flu.

Evan Credon and Enda Kenny, both of whom came off the bench during the win over Home Farm Everton, head the queue to come into the starting line-up and Michael Toland will probably come into the squad.

In this evening's other games, Limerick look to continue their unbeaten run, at Kilkenny, while Drogheda are at home to Cobh Ramblers.

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.