Today
Finn Harps v Bohemians (7.30)
For the first time this season Finn Harps have more than their share of injury problems while the Dubliners are, by their standards, relatively trouble free.
The Donegalmen will be without striker James Mulligan who limped out of last week's game with a hamstring
problem while Donal O'Brien and Davey Dowling are doubtful with an ankle injury and a dead leg respectively. Given the circumstances Ciaran O'Kane, who has suffered a bout of pneumonia recently may have to make an appearance.
The Dubliners have much the same number of problems with central defenders James Coll and Robbie Best both out long term and Donal Broughan looking doubtful. Maurice O'Driscoll will continue to regain his match fitness in the first team, though, while Shaun Maher will start.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: Harps 2 Bohemians 2, Bohemians 3 Harps 1, Harps 1 Bohemians 2; 97/98: Bohemians 4 Harps 2.
Recent league form: Harps: WLDDW Bohemians: WDDLD.
Leading scorers: Harps: Speak (seven); Bohemians: Lawlor and Parkes (five apiece).
Betting: Home: 7/4, Draw: 7/4, Away: 7/4. Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers (7.30)
Neither of these two have quite lived up to their early form but right now it is the home side who are in greater need of a victory. After four draws in a row and nearly two months without a league win Nicky Reid's side will be desperate to beat a side which, the Sligo manager says "have nothing to really make us fear them".
Reid himself is still unfit but he feels that his men have done well enough without him in recent weeks. "They've done well and if we play to our potential we are well capable of winning games like this although admittedly having great potential isn't much good unless you do live up to it."
The home side will almost certainly be unchanged from last weekend but the visitors have a couple of worries with defenders Richie Purdy (flu) and Paul Whelan (back) both facing late fitness tests.
If either fails to come through then Kempes Corbally will come into the reckoning but it would take both being ruled out before Mick Byrne will consider switching from the 3-52 formation employed since the return of Sean Francis.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: Sligo 3 Rovers 0, Rovers 2 Sligo 1, Sligo 1 Rovers 1; 97/98: Rovers 1 Sligo 1.
Recent league form: Sligo: LDDDD Rovers: LDLLW.
Leading scorers: Sligo: Moran, Rose, Thew and Jones (four apiece); Rovers: Cousins (nine).
Betting: Home: 7/4, Draw: 7/4, Away: 7/4. Referee: B O'Regan (Cork).
Tomorrow
Cork City v Kilkenny City (2.0)
Kilkenny City will make the "minimum number of changes" despite another setback against Shelbourne last week when, in less than the space of 10 minutes, they were taken to the cleaners by Damien Richardson's side.
"I thought we did fairly well after that but to be fair it's difficult to say how much credit we deserved for that and how much is simply down to them taking their foot off the pedal," says Alfie Hale.
The extent of the Kilkenny boss's reshuffle will be better known when a decision is made on Tony Hall and Aidan Cooney both of whom are suffering from ankle injuries but even then it may not be as great as Cork's with Declan Daly and Derek Coughlan both doubtful and Brian Barry Murphy as well as Philip Long back in the panel after lay offs but not necessarily fit enough to start yet.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: Did not meet; 97/98: Kilkenny 0 Cork 2.
Recent league form: Cork: WDWWL Kilkenny: LDLLL.
Leading scorers: Cork: O'Brien (four); Kilkenny: Hale (three).
Betting: Home: 1/7, Draw: 5/1, Away: 14/1. Referee: J O'Reilly (Dublin).
UCD v Dundalk (3.15)
Everybody in the home side's camp is reported to be fit but who will make the starting line up remains to be seen as the management team look for a combination that might improve on last week's poor performance.
"We got overrun in midfield and conceded a bad first goal," says Dr Tony O'Neill "but it's not something that requires radical surgery, it's just that we would have expected a little better after being unbeaten for the previous three weeks."
The Lillywhites, meanwhile, are unlikely to mess about too much with the team that beat Cork last week. Raymond Campbell may return to midfield but Shane Reddish is still carrying a knock. If the full back fails to start then local youngster David Hoey may drop back into defence, otherwise Raymond McCoy may be the one to lose out.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: UCD 1 Dundalk 0, Dundalk 2 UCD 2, UCD 3 Dundalk 1; 97/98: Dundalk 1 UCD 1.
Recent league form: UCD: LDDWL Dundalk: DLLLW. Leading scorers: UCD: Sherlock (four); Dundalk: Byrne and Melvin (four apiece).
Betting: Home: 2/1, Draw: 7/4, Away: 6/4. Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).
First Division
Bray travel to the north side of Dublin to take on Home Farm this evening after being somewhat fortunate to beat Galway last week when their double goal scorer, Kieran O'Brien, might have been sent off early on.
O'Brien's striking partner Richie Parsons is Pat Devlin's main worry with a knee injury along with Bo McKeever who will take a late test on a back problem.
Limerick are still without Jason O'Connor (suspension) or Ray O'Halloran (stomach muscle) for tomorrow's big game against Waterford while Albert Finnan (ankle) is highly doubtful. Anthony Tobin, signed in midweek from Longford may start while Paul O'Donnell is also in with a shout for a starting place.
Tommy Lynch has even more problems with Sean Riordan and himself suspended, Donal Golden and Alan Reynolds are both out injured for several weeks, Joe Harkin and John Frost suffering for less serious knocks and Padraig Dully and Tommy Hewitt are both getting their first games after being out since the win in Bray.
"Still," he says "we'll just have to roll up our sleeves and everybody is looking forward to playing down there in front of what should be a pretty big crowd."
Betting courtesy of Paddy Power
