Bray Wanderers v UCD - Carlisle Grounds, 7.45
Not many would have expected these two to be meeting at this stage of the season with Pat Devlin's side pushing for second place in the league and Martin Moran's struggling to dig themselves out of relegation trouble. Wanderers, on the verge of a club record breaking 11-match unbeaten home run are without the suspended Dave Campbell but Eddie Gormley and Jody Lynch are both available again.
The students, meanwhile, have Robert McAuley suspended and Tony McDonnell doubtful due to a dead leg. Martin says, however, that the enforced break in the season may just have been what they needed and that having started what he sees as a new eight-match "mini-season" things are going well enough so far with four points from two games.
Last two seasons: 1999/00: Did not meet; 2000/01: Bray 1 UCD 2, UCD 1 Bray 1.
Recent league form: Bray: W L W D W; UCD: L L L W D.
Leading scorers: Bray: Tresson (10); UCD: McDonnell (five).
Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).
Galway Utd v Shamrock Rovers - Terryland Park, 7.45
The cup semi-finalists have a string of injuries to cope with ahead of this evening's visit to Terryland Park and with so many games looming over the next couple of weeks there is little scope for Damien Richardson to gamble and lose on the fitness of key players.
Pat Deans (ankle), Tony Grant (hamstring) and Billy Woods (ankle) are all definitely out while Tommy Dunne, Shane Robinson and Robbie Horgan are reckoned to be doubtful.
United have much the same squad available to them as for last week's draw with St Patrick's and Don O'Riordan's main preoccupation ahead of kick-off will be whether to stick with the 4-5-1 formation he started with then or revert to the 4-4-2 that he switched to midway through the match.
"I didn't think that it was working for us then and so I made changes but I think there was a specific reason that it wasn't working and so I'll have to decide what way to play it because the more packed midfield has worked well for us on other occasions," he says.
Last two seasons: 1999/00: Shamrock Rovers 2 Galway United 1, Galway United 0 Shamrock Rovers 3, Shamrock Rovers 0 Galway United 0; 2000/01: Galway United 1 Shamrock Rovers 0, Shamrock Rovers 0 Galway United 0.
Recent league form: Galway United: D D W L D; Shamrock Rovers: L W W D L.
Leading scorers: Galway United: Lavine (10); Shamrock Rovers: L W W D L.
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
St Patrick's Ath v Longford Town Richmond Park, 7.45
Having played themselves into the role of leading challengers to Shelbourne, Pat Dolan's side must now beat the side that dumped them out of the cup.
Colm Foley is likely to miss out again with a hamstring problem while Liam Kelly is reported to have picked up a bit of a hamstring strain.
Longford have Paul McNally and Vinny Perth suffering from hamstring pulls while Wesley Byrne has a groin strain and Alan Murphy a dead leg. The chances are that Robbie Coyle and Enda Kenny will again start.
Last two seasons: 1999/00: Did not meet; 2000/01: St Patrick's 2 Longford 4, Longford 0 St Patrick's 3.
Recent league form: St Patrick's: W D W D W; Longford: L L W W L.
Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Kelly (10); Longford: Kelly and O'Connor (six each).
Referee: E Barr (Dublin).
Shelbourne v Bohemians Tolka Park, 7.45
If he'd had it all his own way Dermot Keely admits he would have rather fancied a draw the other night in Richmond Park but a defeat for Bohemians wasn't a bad result ahead of what might be a more tense affair this evening at Tolka Park. As it is, he says: "We have it in our own hands and having got this far it's not the time to start looking in the rearview mirror at what's going on behind us."
The Shelbourne manager is without the suspended Tony McCarthy while Richie Foran is doubtful due to a viral infection.
For Bohemians the only real question is who to play up front. Assuming Collins won't follow through on his bizarre threat yesterday to rest Glen Crowe, the likelihood is that Gary O'Neill will drop out of starting line-up but whether Alex Nesovic will be rewarded for his goal with a start or whether Trevor Molloy will return after completing a two-match suspension is less clear.
Much more certain to start is Kevin Hunt who had to be content with a place on the bench on Tuesday - he came on at halftime - after his own suspension.
Last two seasons: 1999/00: Bohemians 0 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 1 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 1 Shelbourne 1; 2000/ 01: Shelbourne 4 Bohemians 2, Bohemians 0 Shelbourne 1.
Recent league form: Shelbourne: W W D L W; Bohemians: W D L W L.
Leading scorers: Shelbourne: Foran (10); Bohemians: Crowe (20).
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
