National League

Premier Division Bohemians v Kilkenny City (Dalymount Park, 7.45) Kilkenny City manager, Alfie Hale, will be hoping to use his side's visit to Dalymount Park as a morale booster as they strive to consolidate their top flight status.

"We now know that we are in with the big boys when you can look forward to playing at grounds like Dalymount Park," said Hale.

Hale welcomes back experienced left-back Martin Reid following a twomatch suspension but is still without the long-term injured duo of club captain, Paul Cashin, and defender, Paul Devereaux.

Paschal Keane and Aidan Cooney are nursing minor knocks from last week but should be fit to play.

Bohemians' defender, Robbie Best, joined Turlough O'Connor lengthening list of injuries when forced to retire early from last week's 2-2 draw in Dundalk. He joins Derek Swan, Maurice O'Driscoll, Tony O'Connor and Derek McGrath on the Dalymount treatment table.

O'Connor hopes Brian Mooney and Joe Hanrahan will have shaken off minor strains to enable them to start.

"At least we have the bonus of James Coll's return," said O'Connor.

Last season: Did not meet.

League Cup/league form: Bohemians: W/DWDD; Kilkenny City: D/LLWL.

Leading league scorers: Bohemians: Lawlor (three); Kilkenny City: Hale (three).

Betting: Home: 1-3, Draw: 3-1, Away: 8-1.

Referee: Richard O'Hanlon (Waterford).

Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk (Tolka Park, 7.45) Shamrock Rovers manager Mick Byrne has been delighted with the way his side has gradually "gelled together" over the last month, so much so that he is now quietly confident that they can mount a genuine challenge, certainly for a place in Europe, this season.

"With eight new players having come in during the summer, getting everyone settled down quickly was something we were naturally very conscious of and I'm delighted to say that everyone has done just that and we are reaping the benefits of it now," said Byrne.

Rovers, unbeaten and in third place in the table, expect to be unchanged from last week's rousing win over Finn Harps.

Midfielder David Hoey, forced off mid-way through the second-half of last week's game with Bohemians with an ankle injury, is Dundalk's only worry. Tom McNulty will start if Hoey doesn't make it.

Dundalk are, according to manager Jim McLaughlin, improving very steadily.

Having lost their opening game, 3-0, in Cork, they've come from behind to earn draws in their three subsequent matches.

"We've come from 2-0 down in the last two, so it would be nice to reverse the trend and go 2-0 up for a change," said McLaughlin.

Last season: Dundalk 4 Rovers 1, Rovers 0 Dundalk 2, Dundalk 1 Rovers 3.

League Cup/League form: Rovers: D/WDDW; Dundalk: W/LDDD.

Leading league scorer: Rovers: Cousins (three); Dundalk: Melvin (two).

Betting: Home: 4-6, Draw: 9-4, Away: 4-1.

Referee: Brendan Barry (waterford).