UCD v Dundalk Belfield (7.30)

The results may not have been all that he would have hoped for but Paul Doolin insists that, the home defeat by Galway aside, he is fairly satisfied with the progress his side have made over the course of the season's first third.

And as he prepares for this evening's game the UCD manager is getting closer to having a full panel to choose from with John Martin having come through last weekend's appearance as a second-half substitute without any problems and Alan Mahon expected to recover from an ankle injury.

The visitors, though, have a number of problems with Martin Reilly and James Keddy both expected to miss out because of ankle problems while Stuart Connolly, John Whyte and David Crawley are all reckoned to doubtful to one degree or another.

On the brighter side, David Ward returns from suspension and will almost certainly go straight back into the team's attack.

Last two seasons: 2000/01: Derry City 1 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 1 Derry City 1, Derry City 0 Bohemians 2; 2001/02: Bohemians 1 Dery City 0.

Leading scorers: Derry City: T McCallion (three); Bohemians: Crowe (eight).

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

Betting: Home 2/1; Draw 11/5; Away 11/10.

Referee: J Stacey (Westmeath).

Derry City v Bohemians The Brandywell (7.45)

Derry are without midfielder Gareth McGlynn who had to be carried off during last week's meeting with Cork, but defender Darren Kelly is expected to play despite having had stitches applied to a head wound during the same game.

"We're going fairly well," says manager Kevin Mahon, who points to just seven goals conceded as evidence of how solid his side have been. "I thought that things might have been harder for us after Peter Hutton left but we've been okay."

Bohemians will probably play Stephen Caffrey even though he is not fully over the leg injury that kept him out against Shelbourne last weekend.

Caffrey's return is necessitated by the fact that Simon Webb is still out with a back problem, while Avery John has stayed away after last week's international duty with Trinidad and Tobago in order to attend the funeral of a team-mate killed in a car accident.

Last two seasons: 2000/01: Did not meet; 2001/02: Dundalk 1 UCD 1.

Leading scorers: UCD: McAuley, R and J Martin, Martyn (two each); Dundalk: Robinson (three).

League form: UCD: L L D D L; Dundalk: W L L W L.

Betting: Home 4/5; Draw 11/5; Away 3/1.

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).

* Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.