National League Premier Division: At home to the team propping up the table would appear to provide the perfect opportunity to counter claims of a goalscoring crisis at Drogheda United.
Their failure to convert several good chances in their 0-0 draw at Sligo Rovers last Saturday meant Drogheda lost their leadership of the Premier Division. Subsequent criticism of their impotence in front of goal should scarcely make Waterford United's trip to United Park any more appetising.
Paul Doolin's side have scored just seven goals in nine games, prompting suggestions the manager's priority in the July transfer window, if not before, is to acquire a striker. Captain and striker Declan O'Brien, who has scored twice in six starts, believes the issue is being overstated.
"I wouldn't even be bothered listening to what's being said about it," said O'Brien. "If I felt I wasn't playing well, I'd be far more worried. We are conscious of it because we've had chances which we haven't stuck away. We should have taken the chances we got in Sligo. There is no mystery to it. If we'd taken one of them we'd probably have gone on to get another one. I think we've got good quality players, both strikers and midfielders who can score and we won't have a problem scoring goals."
O'Brien has recovered from hamstring twinge and fit to start tonight, though influential midfielder Paul Keegan, who played for the Ireland under-21s in Kilkenny last night, is unlikely to feature. Defender Graham Gartland and midfielder Stephen Bradley are in contention to start.
Waterford have defender John Hayes back from suspension.
Though Greg O'Halloran's knee injury suffered in Monday's defeat at Cork City means he joins Jamie Harris and Jim Crawford in the Shelbourne treatment room, manager Pat Fenlon has Alan Moore and Joseph Ndo fit again to offer options in the middle of the park for the visit of Bohemians to Tolka Park.
Central defender Jason McGuinness continues a suspension for Bohemians while player/manager Gareth Farrelly is a major doubt with the calf strain that forced him off after half an hour of last week's 3-0 win over Bray.
Stephen Ward (ankle) remains out while John Paul Kelly is away captaining the Ireland Under-19s in Slovakia.
Aidan O'Keeffe continues up front in place of Tony Grant (groin).
Tonight's Fixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
NATIONAL LEAGUE - Premier Division - Drogheda Utd v Waterford Utd; Shelbourne v Bohemians (8.0). First Division: Limerick FC v Galway Utd (7.30) Monaghan Utd v Kilkenny City.
