It says something about their respective starts that Sligo Rovers boss Ian Baraclough was yesterday talking about his team as defiant underdogs as they head to Cork for tonight's game against the league leaders.

“I don’t think many people will expect us to get anything from the game,” said the Englishman whose team has managed just four points from six games despite having won its opener against Athlone, “but we will in the dressingroom.”

The clubs are well matched on the injury front, with Danny Morrissey, Michael Rafter, Anthony Elding and Colin Healy out for the hosts, while Sligo won’t have Raffaele Cretaro, Gavin Peers, Séamus Conneely and Danny North.

City do have the precious commodity of momentum on their side and Rovers travel knowing another defeat would leave their title ambitions looking fairly far-fetched just a few weeks into the season.

Tougher assignment
Of the other two sides tied with City on points at the top, Shamrock Rovers look to have the tougher assignment this evening, heading to Inchicore for a derby made all the more intense by the amount of movement between the two clubs over the last couple of years.

The visitors have almost a full squad to choose from, although David O’Connor is still a couple of weeks away from full fitness and Shane Robinson is doubtful with a foot injury.

The champions have Greg Bolger and Killian Brennan back from suspension but Ken Oman is likely to miss out again as Liam Buckley weighs up how much he should meddle with the winning formula he hit upon in Bray on Monday.

Dundalk, meanwhile, could have John Mountney back for the game at UCD, where Stephen Kenny’s side will be looking to make it five wins from six. Aaron Callaghan must do without Ian Ryan (foot) and Ayman Ben Mohamed (knee), while Mark Langtry is a doubt.

Drogheda United will be without Austin McCann for the rest of the season despite the 29 year-old’s operation on a badly broken leg going well this week.

Bray, though, are in worse shape for tonight’s game at United Park with Danny O’Connor, Shane O’Connor, Eric McGill, Jake Kelly, Shane Byrne, Adam Hanlon and Shane Redmond all sidelined.

Bohemians skipper Dave Mulcahy could feature at Dalymount Park against struggling Limerick, while Derry City defender Ryan McBride is expected to miss the visit of Athlone.

FIXTURES (7.45 unless stated)
PREMIER DIVISION
Bohemians v Limerick Home: 5/6, Draw: 23/10, Away: 16/5;
Cork City v Sligo Rovers Home: 11/8, Draw: 9/4, Away: 9/5;
Derry City v Athlone Town Home: 2/5, Draw: 3/1, Away: 15/2;
Drogheda United v Bray Wanderers Home: 4/6, Draw: 5/2, Away: 17/4;
St Patrick's Athletic v Shamrock Rovers Home: 11/8, Draw: 21/10, Away: 2/1; UCD v Dundalk Home: 7/1, Draw: 31/10, Away: 2/5
FIRST DIVISION
Galway v Shelbourne Home: 6/4, Draw: 11/5, Away: 8/5;
Finn Harps v Wexford Youths (8pm) Home: 23/20, Draw: 11/5, Away: 21/10.
Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.