Bray v Derry City (7.30)
The hosts will be anxious to end a terrible run of form but they'll have their work cut out against a Derry side who have proven very hard to beat since Kevin Mahon took over a few weeks ago.
Bray have no injury worries for the game with Maurice Farrell, Darren Power and Kieran O'Brien joining returned defender Mick Doohan in the panel. Doohan will almost certainly start but Devlin will probably make other changes too as he tries to end a sequence of five league defeats during which his side have leaked 20 goals.
Derry will probably be without Sean Hargan who was on the receiving end of a harsh challenge during last week's draw with Cork. Floyd Gilmour and Darren McCaul are still carrying knocks and so Mahon will have to hope that Michael McHugh and Liam Coyle get through the game all right for he has no other strikers.
Last two seasons: 1997/98: Did not meet; 98/99: Derry 5 Bray 1.
Recent league form: Bray: LLLLL; Derry: WDWLD.
Leading scorers: Bray: Byrne (five), Parsons (three); Derry: McHugh and Coyle (four apiece).
Betting: Home: 100/30, Draw: 9/4, Away: 8/ 11.
Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).
St Patrick's v Waterford (7.45)
Suddenly it's all looking a good deal brighter for St Patrick's manager Liam Buckley who, after seeing his side beaten 2-0 at Oriel Park last week, has now seen all of his injury problems clear up and Eddie Gormley win his appeal against a four-match suspension.
Gormley is still missing this evening because of a prior three-match ban but Packie Lynch and Colin Hawkins should be the partnership at the heart of the defence again while Willie Burke and Stephen McGuinness battle it out for the third centre back's position.
Waterford, meanwhile, probably reckon they could do with some of the home side's good fortune for, with John Frost already a long-term absentee, Mike Flanagan must now cope without Robbie Griffin (concussion), Joe Harkin (stress fracture) and Barry Wood (hamstring). Jason Kabia comes in to start his first game for the club.
Last two seasons: 1997/98: Did not meet; 98/99: Waterford 0 St Patrick's 2.
Recent league form: St Patrick's: LWWWL; Waterford: WLDDL.
Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Gilzean and Molloy (eight apiece); Waterford: Dully, Wood and Gannon (two apiece).
Betting: Home: 1/3, Draw: 3/1, Away: 7/1.
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk (7.45)
If Dundalk can repeat the sort of performance that earned then three points against the champions last week manager Jim McLaughlin will be a happy man.
This evening he must cope with the absence of Mick Doohan but Kevin Brady is back so he will slot into the centre of the defence while Brian Byrne and David Hoey may well make appearances on the bench after coming through reserve games without any problems.
Rovers, in contrast, have plenty of injury problems with Richie Purdy (collarbone) and Brian Morrisroe (ribs) definitely still out, Marc Kenny (hamstring) and Matt Britton (back) facing late tests and Mark O'Neill (knee) expected to make it without being fully fit.
The Dubliners' home form has been impressive this season with only Cork City coming away from Tolka Park with the three points.
Last two seasons: 1997/98: Rovers 1 Dundalk 2, Dundalk 0 Rovers 0, Rovers 5 Dundalk 2; 98/99: Dundalk 1 Rovers 1.
Recent league form: Rovers: LLWWW; Dundalk: WDDLW.
Leading scorers: Rovers: Cousins (five), Sherlock and Kenny (four apiece); Dundalk: Withnell 4.
Betting: Home: 8/15, Draw: 12/5, Away: 5/1. Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
First Division
Drogheda Utd v Galway Utd (7.45)
Don O'Riordan continues to search for the winning formula at Galway where the year-long unbeaten home run was ended last week as Cobh came to town and compounded the preseason promotion favourites problems by scoring a 2-0 win.
"We're not going to panic but we know we desperately need to start scoring goals and with this being a massive game, now would be a good time for us to start," says O'Riordan.
Both clubs have full panels to choose from but, while Galway are searching for a first win in nine outings, Drogheda's recent form means that it is they who go into the game with by far the greater self confidence. Martin Lawlor is unlikely to make any serious changes to the team that beat Longford Town away last weekend.
