Being deprived of four of your regular back five is scarcely the tonic to arresting a run of four straight defeats, but Waterford United manager Mike Kerley gives a good impression of the eternal optimist

Goalkeeper Jimmy Fyfe, inspirational in earning the only two points Waterford have acquired in the league so far, and Polish central defender Krystian Lamberski are out due to a bout of flu at the club this week. Fellow central defender and captain Chris Deans is suspended while Brendan Hughes, who has played left back in the last few games, is out with a hamstring strain.

"It's hard to lose so many key players at once. But the lads that will come in are decent enough and I'm still positive about the game," said Kerley who is perhaps thankful it's Longford Town that they meet at the RSC tonight.

Shane Dunphy (20) thus makes a full league debut in place of Fyfe while Kenny Browne, John Hayes and Darren Young make up a back four alongside Patrick Flynn. "The encouraging thing is that we are creating enough chances and if we keep doing that we will start winning games," added Kerley.

Longford striker Robbie Martin remains sidelined with a back problem while Davy Byrne (foot) and Dean Fitzgerald (thigh), though back in training, are unlikely to start.

Player/manager Gareth Farrelly hopes to return to the Bohemians midfield following the thigh strain that kept him out of last week's 0-0 draw with St Patrick's Athletic as Bohemians have the curiosity of being hosted by tenants Dublin City at Dalymount Park. Stephen Rice is likely to drop back to play right-back as Thomas Heary moves across to partner Barry Ferguson in central defence in place of the suspended Jason McGuinness.

Dublin City have midfielder Paul Crowley back from a hamstring strain but remain without Ben Whelehan and Ger McCarthy with striker Mark Rooney rated 50-50 having completed his recovery from a knee operation.