Saturday
Finn Harps v Sligo RVS (7.15)
Given their increasingly poor form over the past couple of weeks Sligo's survival very much depends on them staging a dramatic fightback over the remainder of the run-in and realistically anything less than a win tonight will probably mean relegation.
Not for the first time, Tommy Cassidy finds himself preparing for a major game without some key players and with major doubts hanging over others. Wesley Charles (chicken-pox), Steve Birks (groin strain), Ian Rossiter (bruised cheekbone) and Padraig Moran (thigh) are all causing concern and all might have to sit the game out.
Harps are without the suspended Declan Boyle but Jonathan Minnock has served his ban with the result that Shane Bradley can return to central defence where he will partner Gavin Dykes. If the home side win, they will go seven points clear of their rivals and, reckons Dykes, can be sure of at least the play-off spot.
Last two seasons: 1998/99: Rovers 1 Harps 1, Rovers 2 Harps 0, Harps 1 Rovers 1; 99/00: Harps 2 Rovers 1, Rovers 1 Harps 1.
Recent league form: Harps: LLDLW; Rovers: LDDLL.
Leading scorers: Harps: Mulligan 9; Rovers: Moran 11.
Betting: Home: 1/2, draw: 9/4, away: 6/1.
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
Sunday
UCD v Shamrock Rovers (3.15)
"Furious" with the performance of his players in the Brandywell last weekend, Martin Moran will throw Eamonn McLoughlin and Robert McAuley straight back into the action tomorrow after the pair missed the game in Derry through suspension.
Brian Mooney is also back after suffering from flu and the former Bohemians winger will almost certainly start out wide in midfield. A win over Rovers would keep the home side's hopes of a place in Europe alive but Moran concedes that the result against City means that the club will probably have to settle for top six rather than four as hoped.
Rovers still have a string of injury problems including Tony O'Dowd (groin), Graham Lawlor (achilles) and Sean Francis (calf) but Brian Byrne will come in again while Damien Richardson says he has been particularly pleased by Robbie Horgan's recent form.
Last two seasons: 1998/99: Rovers 2 UCD 0, UCD 0 Rovers 2, Rovers 0 UCD 0; 99/00: UCD 3 Rovers 0, Rovers 0 UCD 0.
Recent league form: UCD: LDDDL; Rovers: DLDWD.
Leading scorers: UCD: Martyn 9; Rovers: Francis and Woods 7.
Betting: Home: 11/8, draw: 2/1, away: 7/4.
Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).
