LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION: WITH THE campaign having taken just five weeks to reach a point where the top and bottom six are in line with the pre-season betting - albeit not quite in the right order as yet - every one of this weekend's games involves a clash between teams on opposite sides of the mid-table divide.

On the face of it, Sligo Rovers face the toughest task of the bottom six with Paul Cook's men set to take on leaders Derry City at the Brandywell just a week after ending a long run without a league win by beating Cobh Ramblers.

The visitors will be without Seán Doherty and Fahrudin Kudozovic, both of whom are still injured, and Pat Jennings, who is prevented from playing by the terms of his loan agreement from City. Alan Moore is in contention to start, though, after missing last week's win due to a broken finger suffered in an accidental clash with goalkeeper Richard Brush in the pre-match warm up.

Derry still have plenty of problems of their own but Stephen Kenny has not taken long to start getting the best out whoever he has available to him at the Brandywell so Rovers will not take too much heart from the continued absence of players like Seán Hargan, Mark McChrystal and Sammy Morrow.

Clive Delaney and Owen Morrison face late fitness tests ahead of this evening's game but City's confidence will be high after two successive victories over St Patrick's Athletic in the league and Setanta Cup.

St Patrick's manager John McDonnell will look to get his men back on track at Finn Park but he'll have to do it without Jamie Harris who picked up a knee injury in the second Derry game. Barry Ryan is suspended so Brendan Clarke continues in goal despite his rather costly error at Richmond Park last weekend while Michael Keane and Dessie Byrne come back into contention.

Harps are still without a string of strikers but Paul Hegarty will be hoping Chris Breen can shake off an ankle injury picked up in training this week in order to play. As of last night, though, Breen was considered a major doubt.

Bohemians have Killian Brennan and Ken Oman available again for the visit of Bray.

"The team struggled to break down sides like Wanderers last season," says Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon, "and it's important we go out there and make things happen against them this time."

Eddie Gormley was relieved to see his Bray side score against Harps last week but the injury problems persist with Andre Georgescu out and Derek Pender and Andy Myler both very doubtful.

Cork City travel to Terryland Park keen to build on last week's first win of the season and anxious, by extension, to deal another blow to Galway United's already slightly battered squad. Alan Mathews has the same panel to choose from while Billy Clery will have been relieved to have seen Derek Glynn and John Lester feature in the midweek League Cup win over Longford but John Russell is out with a broken hand while Derek O'Brien, Wes Charles, Ciarán Foley, Marc McCullock and Stephen O'Flynn are all struggling to be fit.

Drogheda United also travel away in the hope of building a bit of upward momentum in the wake of a decent win last week. Paul Doolin's men head for the UCD Bowl with their manager determined there "is a lot more to come from the team" over the weeks ahead. Jason Gavin, Shane Barrett and Dan Connor are expected to be available again with Gavin having played 90 minutes against Galway and Barrett having made the bench for the game. UCD's Ian Bermingham looks likely to miss out again due to a groin strain.

Ireland Under-18 squad named

SEÁN McCAFFREY has named a 23-strong squad of locally-based players for next week's two friendly internationals against Malta. Tuesday's game takes place at Turner's Cross with the sides meeting again at St Colman's Park two days later.

McCaffrey will use the games to assess which players at Irish clubs would merit call-ups for the the next European Under-19 Championship qualifying campaign which get under way towards the end of the year.

UNDER-18 Squad: Mark McGinley (Fanad United), Brian Collopy (Wembley Rovers), Brian Kane (WFTA), Kevin Burns (Tramore AFC), Niall Walsh (Castlebar Celtic), Peter O'Halloran (Cobh Ramblers), Darren Murray (WFTA), Shane O'Connor (St Joseph's Boys), Daniel Langan (WFTA), Enda Stevens (Cherry Orchard), Craig Duggan (Cork City), Keith Ward (St Kevin's Boys), David O'Neill (Arklow Town), Robert Waters (Cork City), Ian Byrne (Bohemians), Joseph O'Neill (Sporting Fingal), David Shovlin (Drunkeen United), Kevin Dawson (St Kevin's Boys), Eoin Hanrahan (Fairview Rgs), Jake Kelly (St Joseph's Boys), Gavin Falconer (Tramore AFC), Patrick Madden (WFTA), David McDaid (Derry City).