Bohemians v Bray (Dalymount Park, 7.45)
The unusual vagary for a National League side of having internationals in your team hits Bohemians hard tonight as they must do without New Zealanders Jason Batty and Harry Ngata who have flown home for duty with their national team.
Michael Dempsey thus makes his 50th appearance for the club between the posts while Tommy Byrne returns from suspension.
Derek McGrath, son of manager Joe, is fit again after a knee injury that has kept him out since May.
Graham Conway, a 17-year-old winger, has been promoted to the bench for tonight's game, having continued to impress when scoring a hat-trick in Monday night's 3-2 win over St Patrick's Athletic in a B match.
Bray Wanderers midfielder Barry O'Connor continues with his three-match suspension while manager Pat Devlin is still without Kieran O'Brien, Graham Cassin, John Walsh and Maurice Farrell who all remain injured.
Last season: Did not meet.
Recent form: Bohemians: LDLLL; Bray Wanderers: LLWLW.
Leading league scorers: Bohemians: Swan 3; Bray: Byrne 2.
Betting: Home: Evens, draw: 9-4, away: 9-4.
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).
Dundalk v Derry City (Oriel Park, 7.45)
Derry manager Felix Healy will have no hesitation in starting the prodigal Peter Hutton whom he bought back from Portadown in midweek.
Hutton will come straight into the centre of midfield leaving Healy the selection poser of who to leave out. Gary Beckett, who has been playing with a slight toe injury recently, is the likely candidate.
Liam Coyle, used as a 55th minute substitute in Tuesday's League Cup defeat by Cork, should start despite a slight hamstring injury and general tiredness of late.
Dundalk have David Crawley suspended so David Hoey may slot in at left back. Manager Jim McLaughlin also has the option of using the fit again Shane Reddish in that position while midfielder Ray Campbell is also available following injury.
Last season: Derry City 1 Dundalk 2, Dundalk 0 Derry City 1, Derry City 0 Dundalk 0.
Recent form: Dundalk: DLLDL; Derry City: LLWLD.
Leading league scorers: Dundalk: Withnell 2; Derry: Beckett, L Coyle, Gilmore, Hargan, McCallion and McHugh 1 each.
Betting: Home: 9-4, draw: 9-4, away: Evens.
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
Shelbourne v Sligo Rovers (Tolka Park, 7.45)
"We're not going to feel sorry for ourselves," says Shelbourne skipper Pat Scully on their dreadful start to the season. "We got ourselves into this and we're going to get ourselves out of it."
Scully understands the frustrations of the fans, some of whom called for manager Dermot Keely to go after last week's defeat in Bray, but has urged them to get behind the team tonight.
"I've not know such a bad run since I've been at the club," said Scully. "We know we haven't played as well as we can, but it's a long season and there is plenty of time to turn things round yet."
Scully is himself struggling to shake off a calf strain from last week and is a major doubt. Stephen Geoghegan is still several weeks away from match fitness while James Keddy has been told to train on his knee to see what reaction it gives prior to a final decision on surgery.
Sligo have Ian Lynch suspended while Padraig Moran and Matt Hare are out with knee injuries. Jim Sheridan (hamstring) and Glen Shannon (thigh) are slight worries but manager Nicky Reid is hopeful they'll be okay to start.
Last season: Shelbourne 3 Sligo Rovers 0, Sligo Rovers 1 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 2 Sligo Rovers 0.
Recent form: Shelbourne: DDDLL; Sligo Rovers: DWDLD.
Leading league scorers: Shelbourne: Fenlon, McCarthy and Sheridan 1 each; Sligo: Hallows and Shannon 2 each.
Betting: Home: 4-7, draw: 12-5, away: 9-2.
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
Waterford v Shamrock Rvs (Regional Sports Centre, 7.45)
Waterford centre-half Sean Riordan makes a timely return from suspension as Alan Barry, who deputised for him in Sligo last weekend, tore a calf muscle in that game and is out for up to six weeks.
Rovers have both club captain Paul Whelan and Matt Britton back from suspension. However, Terry Palmer, who played his best game yet when replacing Whelan last week, has surely made it hard for manager Mick Byrne to leave him out.
Byrne is more concerned with the continued absence of Jason Colwell with a groin injury. "Jason is a big loss for his ball-winning ability," said Byrne.
Striker Tony Cousins is doubtful so 19-year-old Eoghan O'Meara, a substitute last week, is on standby.
Last season: Did not meet.
Recent form: Waterford United: WWWLD; Shamrock Rovers: DLWDD.
Leading league scorers: Waterford: Dully, Griffin, Harkin and Power 1 each; Shamrock Rovers: Kenny, Murray and Sherlock 1 each.
Betting: Home: 6-4, draw: 11-5, away: 6-4.
Referee: T Tully (Cork).
Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.
