Kilkenny City v Finn HarpsSaturday
Kilkenny City v Finn Harps (7.30)
Potentially the game of the weekend, with both sides desperate that their hopes of battling their way out of trouble aren't severely dented. Just about every manager you talk to these days expresses some surprise regarding the plight of Harps, but still they struggle to beat anyone at home or get any sort of result on the road.
The absence of Ray Kenny (toe) and Niall Bonner (virus) will not help matters, although a far bigger blow would be if player/manager Gavin Dykes fails to overcome a groin strain.
Kilkenny will be at full strength, with Dave Mulcahy's return from suspension finally completing Joe McGrath's range of options.
Last two seasons: 1999/00: Did not meet; 00/01: Harps 1 City 1.
Recent league form: City: LLLLL; Harps: LDLDD.
Leading scorers: City: Byrne, Mulcahy, Murray, Kabia and Carter (all one apiece); Harps: Nesovic (six), J Kenny (three).
Betting: Home: 3/1, Draw: 9/4, Away: 4/5.
Referee: J Casey (Waterford)
Longford Town v St Patrick's Athletic (7.30)
With their recent run of form helped by Pat Dolan's ability to stick to a relatively settled side, the Dubliners travel to the Strokestown Road for this encounter with doubts hanging over a number of players.
Ger McCarthy is definitely out with a calf injury, while Liam Coyle, Colm Foley and Stephen McGuinness are suffering from a bout of flu, although all three will probably feature this evening. Keith Doyle, meanwhile, should return after missing last week's game due to a foot injury.
Longford's weekly round of fitness tests continues, meanwhile, with Stephen Kelly the main focus of interest for Stephen Kenny and the rest of the management team. Kelly has aggravated an old injury against Cork last week.
Paul Perth, Wesley Byrne and Niall Byrne are definitely out, but Eric Byrne returns having shaken off the effects of a recent car accident.
Last two seasons: 1999/00: Did not meet; 00/01: St Patrick's 2 Longford 4.
Recent league form: Longford: DWWWD; St Patrick's: DDWDW.
Leading scorers: Longford: Kelly (five), O'Connor (four); St Patrick's: Kelly (six).
Betting: Home: 7/4, Draw: 2/1, Away: 11/8.
Referee: P Murphy (Athlone).
Sunday
Derry City v Cork City (12.00)
After last week's trouble in the dressingroom at half time, and given the trouble with scoring goals at Cork, it's hard to see how Derek Mountfield could decide to stick with the same team that lost in Longford where, says the City boss "the referee didn't have the best of days but were we played a much bigger part in our own downfall".
In the longer term, Noel Mooney, Patsy Freyne and Neal Horgan should be options again soon, but at the moment Mountfield's options remain limited with the likes of Derek Coughlan and John Caulfield, both of whom came off the bench last week, the leading changes to come in tomorrow.
Derry have a long string of injury worries, so Kevin Mahon will be obliged to play several of his younger squad members again which, given the home side's run of form of late, is not something that he is likely to be too happy about.
Darren Kelly (flu) and Gary Beckett (groin) are the main worries for Mahon, though both may play. But Darren McCaul (ankle), Brendan Devlin (knee) and James Quigley (ankle) are out.
Last two seasons: 1999/00: Derry 1 Cork 0, Cork 0 Derry 0, Derry 1 Cork 4; 00/01: Cork 0 Derry 2.
Recent league form: Derry: LLDLD; Cork: DWLDL.
Leading scorers: Derry: Coyle (three); Cork: Morley (four).
Betting: Home: 11/8, Draw: 13/8, Away: 11/5.
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
Shamrock Rovers v Galway United (2.15)
Rovers come into this game off the back of what their manager feels was probably their best performance of the season, Galway off the back of what was almost certainly their worst.
Don O'Riordan's options have been curtailed this week by the fact that Kieran Foley has dislocated his shoulder for the third time during a training game, while Colin Fortune fell down a flight of stairs and is very doubtful. Tom Silke is also suspended.
Rovers, in contrast, will have a full squad to choose from as long as Sean Francis, Gino Brazil and Dave Smith come through an under21 match this afternoon without any problems.
Last two seasons: 1999/00: Rovers 2 United 1, United 0 Rovers 3, Rovers 0 United 0; 00/01: United 1 Rovers 0.
Recent league form: Rovers: WWLWD; United: LLWDL.
Leading scorers: Rovers: Francis (five); United: Lavine (nine).
Betting: Home: 8/15, Draw: 5/2, Away: 5/1.
Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).
UCD v Bray Wanderers (3.15)
Martin Moran is increasingly frustrated with his side's lack of form and insists that if they do not start to pick themselves up soon then the second half of the season might be very unpleasant indeed.
"All it takes is three or four wins in a row and suddenly you've shot up the table," he says. "The difficulty is, though, that all it takes is that sort of run for Harps and Kilkenny for us to be in far worse shape than we are now."
For tomorrow's game John Martin (knee ligament), Ciaran Martyn (knee) and Kevin Grogan (hamstring) are all out again, while Aidan Lynch is only getting back into training.
Bray will again be without goalkeeper John Walsh, leaving Eddie Van Boxtel in possession of the jersey, while Jason Byrne is still highly doubtful due to a twisted ankle and Eddie Gormley has a touch of flu.
Mick Doohan is also doubtful with a calf strain, and that could mean an opportunity for Wesley Charles to start a game for the first time since his move from Sligo Rovers.
Last two seasons: 1999/00: Did not meet; 00/01: Wanderers 1 UCD 2.
Recent league form: UCD: WDLLD; Wanderers: DWDWD.
Leading scorers: UCD: McDonnell and Grogan (three apiece); Wanderers: Tresson (six) Byrne (five).
Betting: Home: 6/4, Draw: 9/5, Away: 6/4.
Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).
