National League Previews: Three-time losers when the sides met last year, Bohemians head for Turner's Cross today with the unenviable task of kick-starting their season by upsetting champions Cork City on their own turf.
Gareth Farrelly is just one player - John Paul Kelly - short of a full squad for a game that RTÉ 2 television will broadcast live but the locals look to hold most of the cards as they look to maintain their solid start to the season.
Roy O'Donovan will sit the game out after being sent off for the second time in 12 days at Drogheda while Billy Woods must serve a suspension carried over from last season. But City are boosted by the return to fitness of influential midfielder Joe Gamble.
O'Donovan's Setanta Cup three-match suspension means he won't play again in the competition this year unless City make the final, but his absence here is compounded by that of Woods who had started the club's three games since Gamble was sidelined with an ankle injury.
The weekend's big game in Dublin is at Richmond Park where Shelbourne will be aiming to record a first competitive win in five games.
Jim Crawford is doubtful for the visitors after limping out of Monday's draw against Linfield with a calf strain while Greg O'Halloran is laid up, but Pat Fenlon, who has already used more than 20 players in the club's six games this season, still has plenty of options with Alan Reynolds, Stuart Byrne and Alan Moore among those who could come into central midfield.
St Patrick's Athletic have been making a good deal this week of the fact that they go into the game as (joint) league leaders for the first time in four years, but after a draw with Waterford and a narrow defeat of UCD, John McDonnell will know a little bit more about how his substantially remodelled side is gelling after what should prove to be a more testing night's work.
Without a goal in their last three games, Shelbourne look vulnerable on paper. But if Fenlon's players can generate chances in the sort of volume they did against Linfield then St Patrick's, who are without Stephen Caffrey (groin), are certain to have their work cut out.
One of a couple of managers struggling this week to deal with the consequences of a bug having gone around his squad, Pete Mahon will be drafting in some of the club's even younger youngsters for UCD's trip to Waterford. "I'd take a stab that the team we put out will be the youngest ever to have played in the eircom League," says Mahon who is without Tony McDonnell, Alan McNally and Gary Dicker and still awaiting fitness reports on the likes of Conor Kenna and Ciarán Quinn.
Ciarán Harte, Paul Byrne and David Last (the centre-half son of former St Patrick's player Larry) come into the squad with the latter set to make his debut.
Bray are also struggling to cope with a bout of flu and Pat Devlin will be hoping Stephen Gifford, Brian McGovern and Paul Caffrey recover sufficiently to feature against Longford Town. Jody Lynch and Graham O'Hanlon are still out with injuries while Stephen Fox and Colm Tresson are doubtful. Wes Charles returns after suspension.
Longford have a full squad for the game, as do Sligo, for the trip to Derry who have three back from suspension although Kevin McHugh is banned while Pat McCourt is struggling with a thigh strain that forced him out of the defeat by Glentoran.
Finally, Mark Rooney (knee injury) is ruled out of Dublin City's game against his former club, Drogheda United, while Paul Crowley is suspended but Mick O'Donnell is available again for the Dubliners. United have Simon Webb and Stephen Bradley suspended while Stephen Gray (calf) is a doubt, but Brian Shelley is fit again while Shane Barrett and Paul Keegan also return to the squad.
Tonight'sFixtures
(7.45): Bray Wanderers v Longford Town, Carlisle Grounds; Cork City v Bohemians, Turner's Cross; Derry City v Sligo Rovers, Brandywell Stadium; Dublin City v Drogheda United, Dalymount Park; St Patrick's Athletic v Shelbourne, Richmond Park; Waterford United v UCD, RSC.
