National League Previews

Premier Division

Tomorrow

Derry City v Shamrock Rovers (Brandywell, 3.15)

Jason Sherlock's availability situation, or rather the lack of it, with Sharmock Rovers is expected to be resolved over the next few days.

Sherlock hasn't featured for Rovers since the start of the season due to a groin injury sustained playing for his GAA club, Na Fianna.

His GAA commitments and his job in television are clearly disrupting his football career with Rovers and it's a situation manager Damien Richardson wants resolved as soon as possible.

"I've already discussed it with Jason,["] said Richardson," and I'll be sitting down with him again over the next few days to finalise the matter. The club would then hope to be in a position to make an announcement one way or the other by Tuesday or Wednesday.

"I've got to find out from Jason where the commitment is. At the moment it's a tripartite situation between his job in television, his GAA commitment and Rovers and clearly it can't go on like that. We have to come up with something that's satisfactory to all parties and certainly, from my point of view, for Shamrock Rovers."

Needless to say, Sherlock won't be at the Brandywell for tomorrow's keenly awaited top of the table clash which Richardson is eagerly looking forward to.

"The match defies people's pre-season perceptions of a top of the table game," said Richardson. "But I can't think of a better place to going for such a game and hopefully people will be encouraged to come out and watch it. Both of us will play to win and I see it being a very open game."

Derry manager Kevin Mahon is equally looking forward to the game. "This is an opportunity for us to see how far we've come," said Mahon. "We've had three great wins, but this is the first big game at the Brandywell. We've had a great start and we're not prepared to let it slip."

Rovers chief summer signing, Brian Byrne, who twisted his knee after coming on as a substitute last week, is out for a fortnight. It's not, however, the same knee that sidelined Byrne for the whole of last season.

Richie Purdy hopes to play in a reserve game today and, all being well, will be added to the panel for the Brandywell.

Derry are without Sean Gallagher (shin) and Paul Curran (hamstring) while Sean Hargan, who is struggling with a groin strain, is expected to be fit.

Last season: Shamrock Rovers 0 Derry City 0, Derry City 1 Shamrock Rovers 1, Shamrock Rovers 1 Derry City 0.

Betting: Home: evens, Draw: 9/4, Away: 9/4.

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).

First Division

Joint leaders Bray Wanderers' injury list lengthened to ten after last week's League Cup win over Kilkenny City. Manager Pat Devlin, without long-term injured pair John Ryan and Jody Lynch, now also has Stephen Fox, Colm Tresson, Don Tierney, Kieran O'Brien, Jason Byrne, Aaron Lynch, Phil Keogh and Anthony McKeever, carrying knocks.

Monaghan, whom Bray meet at Gortakeegan tomorrow afternoon, are in far better shape with the return of Robbie Best, Paul Hall, James O'Callaghan and Paul Brady.

Fellow leaders Cobh Ramblers, fresh from a pleasing 4-1 drubbing of an under-strength Limerick in the League Cup last week, wait on John Murphy (hamstring), Kenny O'Rourke (knee) and Tommy Cregoe (ankle) for their meeting with Athlone Town at St Colman's Park tomorrow.

"We're progressing very well and the win in Limerick was additionally pleasing as the goals came from different players," said Cobh manager John O'Rourke.

Athlone have Alan Oliver back from holidays while manager Joey Malone hopes to start Conor Frawley after a two match absence.

"Winning in Galway, after the reasonable start they had, was a great boost to our confidence and we should be able to build on that," said Malone.

Kilkenny City, who've who have brought forward their game with Dundalk to 3 p.m. today, have striker Trevor Vaughan back from the United States. Jonathan Prizeman starts his first game in midfield while there is a debut for Aidan Forde, formerly of Galway United, wide on the right.

Nothing is improving for Dundalk as they try to end a dismal start of four straight defeats.

Paul Whelan cracked a rib in last week's defeat to Longford and was in hospital yesterday with a suspected punctured lung while Mark Reid (hamsting) is also out. Terry Kavanagh, once with St Francis, makes his debut in attack. Longford Town, most unhappy at the prospect of three games over five days, are without Stephen Gavin (knee) so Enda Kenny starts in midfield at home to Limerick who bring back Ray O'Halloran, John Whyte and Bobby Ryan, who were all rested last week.

*Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.