The National League season kicks off in Inchicore this evening with the visit of champions Derry City who will be hoping to put a disappointing League Cup campaign behind by beating one of the teams likely to be in the hunt for this year's title, Saint Patrick's Athletic.

City made what seemed like an inspired start to their pre-season build up when they reached the final of the international tournament at Lansdowne Road by beating Celtic. In recent weeks the side has struggled to show much form with a disappointing showing against Maribor Branik in the first qualifying round of the Champions' League followed by just one draw in the three League Cup outings.

Felix Healy's cause is not helped by injuries to key players with Paul Heggarty having suffered a number of cracked ribs in the match against Fanad, Tom Mohan struggling to rid himself completely of a bout of hepatitis, Liam Coyle having been out since the second leg of the European tie with a hamstring problem and Sean Hargan currently suffering from a shorter term thigh strain.

Pat Dolan does not quite have a clean bill of health with Glen Southgate likely to come in for Paul Osam who has an ankle problem while it is hoped that Martin Reilly will have recovered sufficiently from a back problem to figure.

The game marks the league debut of the new Saint Patrick's Athletic programme, a 32-page colour publication backed by DHL which, with typical understatement, Dolan describes as the "world's best club matchday magazine".