Emmet Malone looks forward to tonight's visit of Derry City to Richmond Park to play St Patrick's Athletic and the Bohemians v Cork City clash.

Derry City v St Patrick's Athletic

It's still not clear whether this game will go ahead - a pitch inspection is scheduled for 9 a.m. to check on how frost forecast for last night has affected an already very hard pitch.

Putting it back to Sunday would probably suit Derry for Liam Coyle limped out of Monday's defeat by Shamrock Rovers and could, like Eddie McCallion and Ciarán Martyn, do with the extra three days' recovery time. Kevin Mahon may not fancy postponing the match beyond the weekend, however, for while his own team's form has been wretched of late there probably won't be a better time to play St Patrick's.

The Dubliners are still without Darragh Maguire while Martin Russell is very doubtful. Paul Osam and Mbabazi Livingstone are carrying knocks while Tony Bird is still suspended and so Liam Kelly, Paul Marney and Robbie McGuinness are all in with a shout of starting.

Last two seasons: 01/02: St Patrick's 1 City 0, City 3 St Patrick's 1, St Patrick's 3 City 0; 02/03: City 2 St Patrick's 0, St Patrick's 1 City 0.

Recent form: City: L L L D L; St Patrick's: D D L L L.

Leading scorers: City: Hargan, Coyle and Martyn (four apiece); St Patrick's McCarthy (five).

Betting: Home 5/4, Draw: 9/4, Away: 7/4.

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).

Bohemians v Cork City

After their remarkable fightback against Rovers last week the league leaders will be aiming to take another significant step towards the championship by beating a Cork side that travels very poorly.

"We didn't play well last week and we haven't beaten Cork this year so we're not taking anything for granted," says Stephen Kenny, who is without the suspended Colin Hawkins and, possibly, Paul McNally (injured).

Liam Murphy blames his side's appalling record away from home on his players' "poor application" and insists if they start to work harder then the results would come

"We've got to win this one, though, so we'll have a go and hopefully there will be an improvement."

Alan Reynolds is suspended for the match and though there was talk yesterday of an appeal it appears that Murphy will settle instead for bringing Greg O'Halloran back into his midfield while Conor O'Grady and Mike Mulconry are fit enough again to be in contention for a place on the bench.

Last two seasons: 01/02: City 0 Bohemians 1, Bohemians 2 City 2, City 0 Bohemians 3; 02/03: Bohemians 1 City 1, City 1 Bohemians 1.

Recent form: Bohemians: W W D W W; City: D L W W D.

Leading scorers: Bohemians: Crowe (16); City: O'Flynn (11).

Betting: Home: 4/6, Draw: 12/5, Away: 7/4.

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power