Ending St Patrick's Athletic's seven-match winning run would be the perfect tonic to re-ignite Waterford United's flagging season at the RSC tonight, according to Blues captain John Frost.

Waterford, the surprise packets of the current campaign following their bright start on their return to the Premier Division, have hit their first poor patch of the season with just one win from their last six games. That's seen them dumped out of the FAI Cup and slump from second to sixth in the league table.

Frost believes that Blues' luck has swung against them after they enjoyed some fortuitous moments earlier in the season. But it's time the pendulum of fortune swung back in their direction.

"We have to recover the form we showed in the first half of the season if we are to get back into the top half of the table or even get into Europe," said Frost. "We're just not getting the rub of the green at the moment. Things were happening for us in that respect earlier in the season. As Jimmy (McGeough) said, the ball was hitting the post and going in instead of staying out.

"Losing is a habit and so is winning. When things don't go your way they really don't go your way. When you are winning you get the bounce of the ball.

"But you make your own luck by working hard. We are working hard and hopefully we'll get our rewards again soon."

David Breen is fit again following an ankle injury but fellow central defender Willie Byrne is a doubt with a groin strain.

"We are playing well, but not well enough to win games," said manager McGeough. "We've given away soft goals lately and that's something we've worked on this week in training."

St Patrick's have both central defender Clive Delaney and midfielder Keith Fahey available again after they were ineligible and suspended respectively for last week's cup win over Kildare County. Davy Byrne and Paul Donnelly both require late fitness tests. Colm Foley remains out following food poisoning.

"They gave us a tanking earlier in the season so we are under no illusions as to how hard it's going to be," said St Patrick's manager, Eamonn Collins.

Not having been involved in the FAI Cup last week, league leaders Shelbourne are well rested for the visit of suspension hit Longford Town to Tolka Park, though manager Pat Fenlon is without suspended striker Ger McCarthy while defender Jim Gannon is still sidelined following an ankle operation.

Longford draft both Tom Silke and Graham Gartland into their squad in the absence of captain Barry Ferguson, Darragh Sheridan and Vinny Perth who are all banned.

"Shels are doing okay," said Longford manager Alan Matthews. "People may have said they are struggling, but they are still top of the league. They have a big, full-time squad and have also had the benefit of not having had a game last week. Every time we've played there it's been difficult, so we won't expect anything different."

Cork City will be without Irish under-21 international striker John O'Flynn for at least six weeks after a scan revealed he suffered knee ligament damage in the 1-1 draw with UCD a fortnight ago.

Derek Coughlan, sent off at Belfield, is also out of tonight's clash with Bohemians at Turner's Cross. Denis Behan is likely to partner George O'Callaghan in attack in O'Flynn's absence while Alan Bennett replaces Coughlan in central defence.

Bohemians, with just one defeat in 11 domestic games since the summer break, have their problems as well with Colin Hawkins, Damien Lynch, Mark Rutherford and Thomas Heary all likely absentees with injury. Paul McNally is suspended while Stephen Ward is away with the Ireland under-19s in San Marino.

Pete Mahon has selection difficulties as he takes charge of UCD for the first time "away" to Shamrock Rovers at Belfield Park.

Captain Tony McDonnell, Patrick McWalter and Alan Gallen are injured while Darragh Ryan and Patrick Sullivan miss the match due to suspension. Left-back Hugh Davey returns from international duty with Northern Ireland's under-21s.

Shamrock Rovers, with just one win from their last eight league games, make an enforced switch in attack due to Trevor Molloy's suspension with Garry Haylock vying with Glen Fitzpatrick to partner Tony Grant.