Drogheda United's recent injury crisis shows signs of easing ahead of this evening's visit to the RSC in Waterford where manager Paul Doolin expects to have Brian Shelley, Damien Lynch, Declan O'Brien and Eamon Zayed fit enough to feature while Glen Fitzpatrick returns from suspension.

"Against Cork last week a few of the lads looked tired but there's no shame in that, it had been a hard week for them and if I'd had enough bodies to make a few changes then I would have done it," said Doolin. "The lads did well to get the draw and maintain the seven-point lead we had over them in the table."

Doolin recognises Waterford's form makes them the sort of side his own should be beating if they want to maintain their early-season momentum. "I haven't seen them myself yet but I know their only win in the league came against Cork which suggests they're up for the bigger games."

At Dalymount Park, Bohemians take on UCD who would move above Seán Connor's side if they get their fourth league win of the season.

Connor is without Fergal Harkin (knee), Dessie Byrne (heel), Harpal Singh (shoulder) and Dean Pooley (ankle ligaments) while Darren Mansaram is suspended. Liam Burns will partner Jason McGuinness in central defence.

"We've taken a bit of stick for not scoring more goals," says Connor, "and I accept the blame because I felt Bohemians had become slightly soft touches over the past couple of years and my priority was to tighten things up. I've think we succeeded on that front in the last few weeks and the task is to maintain the improvement at one end while giving our attacking players a little more licence to do their stuff at the other end."

While Bohemians are seven matches unbeaten in all competitions, Derry City have just one win from their last 10 outings and could do with taking all three points against Galway in Terryland this evening. Last week's home draw with Bohemians did involve a substantially better performance but manager Pat Fenlon recognises Derry must maintain the improvement if they are turn a difficult situation around. "We have the players to get out of it . . .," he says, "and if we play like we did last Friday when the only thing missing was a goal then we'll be okay."

Alan Moore, Gary Beckett, Kevin Deery and Darren Kelly are out for the visitors while Galway manager Tony Cousins will be without Alan Keane and Chris Armstrong and must wait before making a decision regarding Alan Murphy, Ciarán Foley and John Russell.

In the night's other Premier Division game new Sligo manager Paul Cook could have Conor O'Grady available for the trip to Shamrock Rovers while Pat Scully is hoping recent injury victims Tadhg Purcell, Ger Rowe, Danny O'Connor, Ger O'Brien and Aidan Price could all be fit enough to play some part.

FIXTURES (7.45 unless stated). Premier Division:Bohemians v UCD, Galway United v Derry City, Waterford United v Drogheda United, Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers (8.0). First Division:Wexford Youths v Shelbourne (8.0), Limerick 37 v Monaghan United, Finn Harps v Kilkenny City (8.0).