With their place in the semi-finals already secure, Cork City take on Portadown at Turner's Cross this evening with their sights firmly fixed on securing a home draw in the next round, something they can do by winning their group.

Damien Richardson's side have looked comfortable in their outings to date but they're not helped this evening by injuries to key players like George O'Callaghan, Neale Horgan and Joe Gamble, all of whom are rated as extremely doubtful for the game.

Gamble missed the game against Drogheda United with an ankle injury while Cillian Lordan looks set to start in place of Horgan and 21-year-old midfielder Admir Softic will be rewarded for some fine performances in the reserves and Munster Senior Cup games if, as expected, O'Callaghan has to sit the game out.

"The game is important to us for all sorts of reasons," says Richardson. "Most importantly, we need to bounce back from Saturday's match in Drogheda which was poor and we want top spot in the group because playing our semi-final in front of our home crowd is a highly attractive prospect for everybody involved with the club."

The Northerners retain hopes of making the semi-finals themselves although their ambitions could be ended by a defeat this evening. They travel without Kyle Neill or Richard Clarke both of whom are suspended but have looked capable enough in a couple of their previous outings and so a tight game seems likely.

Drogheda United could join City in the next round, meanwhile, if they can beat Dungannon Swifts and Portadown lose. Paul Doolin's men really hit their stride last week and, like Cork, they will be anxious to put Saturday's tough encounter with the defending league champions behind them.

However, they will have to do so without Keith Fahey or Paul Bernard, both of whom are still carrying knocks, while Stephen Gray (calf) and Brian Shelley (foot) are unlikely to make the starting line-up.

Joe McAree, meanwhile, will be without Bryan McCrystal for the game but he does have four players - Michael Ward, Darren Murphy, Shane McCabe and his son Rodney - who served Irish League suspensions at the weekend and are available again.