HAVING BAGGED a place in yet another League Cup final, Derry City resume their hunt for glory in the Ford-sponsored FAI Cup in Kildare this evening where the home team will be looking to set aside their recent financial problems for at least 90 minutes or so.
Stephen Kenny's side should really only require to maintain their focus to come through safely but stranger things have happened in knock-out competitions than teams as ostensibly superior being beaten because they took things for granted.
The northerners, though, are in pretty good shape. Ciarán Martyn and Peter Hutton will both have to undergo tests on groin strains but Seán Hargan and Eddie Mccallion came through last weekend's game without any problems and may both start against the first division outfit.
St Patrick's Athletic are another side who appear, on paper, to be shoe-ins for the quarter-finals but unlike Derry they've spent the best part of the week in Sweden and tiredness may be a factor as they travel to Wexford Youths tomorrow night.
"If they come down absolutely buzzing and in really good shape mentally, youre asking almost the impossible to stay with them," admits Wexford boss Mick Wallace. "But if Pats dont come down to Ferrycarrig in the right frame of mind," he adds, "then well get close to them."
When these two sides met in a pre-season friendly the Dubliners ran out 5-1 winners and St Patrick's manager John McDonnell would settle for a good deal less than that this time around.
Gary O'Neill and Dave Partridge are set to miss out again while Derek O'Brien and Glen Fitzpatrick are doubts but Gary Dempsey should shake off a back problem to feature.
Carrick United must take on Sporting Fingal without Anthony Power or the Fitzgerald brothers, Thomas and Wyane, while the visitors will be missing both Brian Kelly and Jim Crawford through injury.
Philip Byrne returns after recovering from a foot injury but Barry Ferguson is cup-tied.
In the weekend's other fourth-round game Wayside Celtic look to indulge in another bout of giant-killing when they welcome Monaghan United to the Golden Ball.
The visitors have Seán Brennan and Barry Clancy cup-tied while Brian Gartland is suspended but Mick Cooke is cautiously optimistic after a run of three wins on the trot for his side.
