Bohemians v Drogheda United - (7.45)
In addition to Kevin Hunt and Alex Nesovic being back from suspension, Dave Morrison is fully recovered from a broken leg so Roddy Collins has - the suspended Stephen Caffrey aside - a full squad to choose from. Nesovic will probably start up front with Glen Crowe, while Darren O'Keeffe may well come in for Caffrey.
United, like the hosts, are missing one player - Stuart Smith - through suspension, but Harry McCue does have John Butler and Colm Murphy back after long layoffs, while Mark Byrne continues to approach 100 per cent fitness. McCue says that his youngsters will "give it a go" at Dalymount this evening, but as a precaution he will abandon the 4-3-3 formation employed in recent games with Dixie Nugent dropping back to the right side of midfield.
Five-year form: Bohemians: SF,SF,1,2,RU; United: 2,QF,1,1,2.
Betting: Home: 1/5, Draw: 7/2, Away: 11/1. Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
Bray Wanderers v Sligo Rovers (7.45) - Six goals in recent wins over Cobh and St Francis have revived Sligo's promotion hopes, but still it is only the fact that Bray have gone 10 games unbeaten that suggests we might be due a shock at the Carlisle Grounds this evening.
Tommy Cassidy will omit Michael Zaalnan, who only returned from Holland yesterday, but otherwise the visitors travel at full strength hoping to build on their recent improved form.
Bray will be without the suspended Maurice Farrell, while former Rovers central defender Wesley Charles is doubtful. Dave Campbell and "Tarzan" O'Brien, however, both return after missing the pre-Christmas trip to Kilkenny.
Five-year form: Wanderers: 1,QF,1,W,SF; Rovers: SF,2,QF,QF,2. Betting: Home: 1/2, Draw: 11/4, Away: 9/2. Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).
St Patrick's Athletic v Wayside Celtic (7.45) - Having gone three months unbeaten at home, the recent defeat by Shamrock Rovers will have been a blow to St Patrick's, but it would be a far greater shock if they were to slip up against Wayside. The non-league side have caused a few big clubs problems in recent years, but while they are close to full strength - only Mark Byrne looks likely to be ruled out by injury - a draw would represent an enormous achievement. Pat Dolan describes the game as a potential banana skin and remains unsure, he says, about how best to approach it. The main question for the manager is whether to throw Michael Holt in for a three-man attack, but whatever decision is taken on that front, Robbie Griffin will probably return after serving a suspension.
Five-year form: St Patrick's: RU,QF,QF,QF,2; Wayside: QF,1,2,DNQ,DNQ. Betting: Home: 1/5, Draw: 7/2, Away: 11/1. Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
Waterford United v St Francis (7.45) - The hosts are the better fixed of the two squads ahead of this evening's all first division tie at the Regional Sports Centre, where Paul Power has the luxury of picking from a full squad, John Noonan the task of coping with up to four absentees.
Power welcomes back David Whittle from suspension as well as Eric Bradley and Joe Watson from injury. All could go straight into a side which should, on league form at least, be capable of finishing at the first attempt.
The Dubliners, meanwhile, have Shane Doherty and Darragh McDonagh suspended while Graham Doyle and John Reid are struggling with injuries. Both face late fitness tests, however, and the hope will be that at least one of them makes the starting line-up.
Five-year form: United: 2,SF,1,1,2; St Francis: DNQ,2,2,1,2. Betting: Home: 4/9, Draw: 11/4, Away: 11/2. Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).
