With no weight of expectation on a team considered a work-in-progress, St Patrick's Athletic can afford to nod in agreement at all the talk of a Shelbourne-Bohemians shoot-out for the title.
With the League Cup won and a FAI Cup semi-final to come, St Patrick's - unbeaten in 10 games over two months, eight of which they've won - are second in the table and seemingly content with a season that's gone better than rookie manager Eamonn Collins could surely have planned.
"I would believe Eamonn in what he has already said about us not being realistic title contenders," says defender Clive Delaney, who recently joined St Patrick's after a move to Shelbourne fell through. "He has just put this squad together this season. Realistically, I'd say he is looking to the future in relation to winning a league."
St Patrick's are without top-scorer Tony Bird at home to Derry City tonight as the Welshman is suspended after his sending off in the draw at Waterford on Friday night. David Freeman starts up front with Gary McPhee in the only likely change from the team that kept its fourth clean sheet in five games at the RSC, as injury and illness rule out Paul Donnelly, Davy Byrne and Colm Foley. Opponents Derry are injury free.
Paul McNally returns from suspension for Bohemians in the Dublin derby with Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park. Ken Oman is likely to drop to the bench. Colin Hawkins, Thomas Heary and Mark Rutherford remain out with injuries while Stephen Ward is with the Ireland under-19s in San Marino.
"We have a good run of wins and the games are coming thick and fast," said manager Stephen Kenny. "Bohs-Rovers derbies are always very tight with usually only a goal deciding them either way and I expect that's the way it will be (tonight)."
Trevor Molloy returns from suspension for Rovers who secured only their second win in nine league games, 2-0, at UCD on Friday night. Having succeeded in getting their team evicted from Richmond Park after violent scenes outside the ground in their meeting with Bohemians three weeks ago, Rovers fans are again on trial tonight.
"From a playing perspective the supporters have been great," said Rovers' central defender Stephen McGuinness. "But obviously the other side of it is something the club doesn't need. We've had enough problems with getting the ground (in Tallaght) up and running and any of the bad publicity we are getting through the supporters isn't helping anybody's case."
"Ironically, we are probably playing our best football of the season but just not getting the results we deserve," says Waterford manager Jimmy McGeough ahead of his side's trip to UCD. They have taken just two points from their last five games. With Willie Byrne still out with a groin strain, Waterford should be unchanged from Friday night.
UCD have Darragh Ryan and Patrick Sullivan back from suspension but are without Hugh Davey, suspended having been sent off against Shamrock Rovers. Midfielder John Gaffney is also out with a thigh strain.
Tonight'sFixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
Premier Division - Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers (7.00); St Patrick's Athletic v Derry City; UCD v Waterford Utd.
