National League Previews

Derry aiming for further capital gains Derry City look to continue their strong run of results on trips to Dublin this evening when they take on Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park. The Northerners will move into second place in the Premier Division if they win again in the capital.

Stephen Kenny's side have beaten Shelbourne away twice in recent weeks and also won at Bohemians in the early weeks of the campaign. Their only defeat in the city this season came at UCD, but they suffered a surprise home defeat to Rovers in late April, a result they should reverse if the recent form of the two clubs is anything to go by.

"We're playing well and with a lot of confidence at the moment," said Kenny, "but Rovers have picked up good results against ourselves, Shelbourne and Drogheda, so it'll be a difficult one."

The visitors are without long- term injury victims Damien Brennan and Eddie McCallion (both medial ligaments) as well as Stephen O'Flynn, who is suffering from a thigh strain, but Kenny still has considerable options in comparison with his opposite number, Roddy Collins.

The Rovers squad continues to shrink, Paul Caffrey joining Bray Wanderers on Wednesday and Cathal O'Connor possibly on his way to Monaghan United. With Keith O'Halloran no longer being considered for the first team, Collins is left with little or no cover in key areas of the pitch.

"We'll have a reserve goalkeeper and three youth-team players on the bench for this one," said Collins, "but if Keith Doyle gets over a groin problem to play it'll be pretty much the team that beat Shelbourne.

"On our day the team can beat anybody, but it's about them all being fit and available now, and with Trevor Molloy missing the game in Cork next week with a suspension it's important we get the points from this match because I don't see us getting any at Turner's Cross."

UCD are without three strikers - Damien Dupuy, Paul Byrne and Paul Whitmarsh - for this evening's meeting with St Patrick's Athletic at Belfield.

Pete Mahon's side will be looking to improve on the result between the teams in Inchicore, where three goals in the opening 30 minutes set up a victory for John McDonnell's side.

Waterford United manager Giles Cheevers, meanwhile, is likely to add PJ Banville, John Lester and Derek McCarthy to his squad for the game against Bray Wanderers.

McCarthy joins on loan from Limerick until the end of the season, while Lester has been unattached since leaving Drogheda United last season and Banville rejoins Waterford after a spell with Wexford's footballers.

Shelbourne defender David Crawley looks set to miss out on next week's Champions League qualifying round second leg against Glentoran after suffering a suspected ankle fracture in Wednesday's win in Belfast.

Club officials claim the left back was kicked three times in the same spot before being forced out of the game after 44 minutes. If tests confirm the break, the former Dundalk player could be out for up to three months.