St Patrick's Athletic v Sligo Rovers, 7.45, live RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
St Patrick's Athletic host Sligo Rovers in front of the RTÉ cameras at Richmond Park tonight.
With last week's match with Finn Harps postponed, a number of Saints players have recovered from knocks with Jack Bayly now back in training and only Conor O'Malley still in on the sidelines as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Manager Liam Buckley admitted that the players were keen to get back out on the field following last week's cancellation.
"Not playing last week was a bit disappointing as we were all good to go for Harps, but these things happen and the players could have a weekend free and were focused for Sligo at the start of the week," he said.
"I saw Sligo play Cork and I thought they played well. Sligo have a good group of players this season so they are going to be tough opposition for everyone this year and they're unlucky not to have more points in the table.
"We've had some time to work on a few things following the defeat to Dundalk so the lads are just keen to get back out there and get playing. We're looking to bounce back so hopefully we can put on a performance and get the three points."
For Rovers, there will be late fitness tests needed for defender Tim Clancy and Gavin Peers. They have trained this week but Dave Robertson will wait until closer the game before making a final decision.
Both centre-backs missed the Cork City game due to a groin injury for Clancy and a thigh problem for Peers.
Despite feeling the effects of a groin problem late in the Cork match, goalkeeper Micheal Schlingermann has trained well all week and is fully fit for this game.
Phil Roberts is a confirmed absentee as he serves the final game of a suspension for a red card against Galway United three weeks ago.
Sligo, currently bottom of the table, go in search of their first win under Robertson after an encouraging 0-0 draw with the Rebels last time out.
He said: "We have the highest standards for ourselves, week in, week out. What the performance against Cork did give us is a foundation from which to build on.
"We put to bed the bad 45 minutes we had against Bray Wanderers and moved on from it. Pat’s are a very good team and we will not be taken them lightly at all. They have threats all over the pitch and we will be giving them every respect.”
Cork City v Wexford Youths, 7.45
John Caulfield is braced for a stern test from a "big, strong and physical" Wexford Youths side at Turner's Cross.
“Shane Keegan has done a great job at Wexford," he said.
"They were desperately unlucky in their first few games, but they drew with Bohemians and then they beat Bray last week, so they have a few points under their belts now. They are a really hard working side; they are big, strong and physical and cause a lot of problems from set pieces.
“From our point of view, we haven’t been at home for a month and it is great to be back. Hopefully, we will have a big crowd and they will be very vocal from the start, because it is important for us to start the game right and get the three points.”
Greg Bolger returns from suspension for Cork, with Alan Bennett also back after missing the draw with Sligo Rovers.
John Kavanagh remains sidelined as he recovers from surgery and Michael McSweeney is a major doubt for the game after suffering a knock during the week.
The visitors are without Shane Dunne, Peter Higgins, Aidan Keenan and Johnny Bonner. Chris Kenny could start after making the bench against Bray.
"Games don't get much tougher than Cork City at Turner's Cross but after getting the first win under our belt, confidence is up and we're really looking forward to the challenge now," Keegan said.
"Obviously, we're big outsiders but we've shown already this season that we're capable of taking on anybody when we're at our best so if we perform we could really put it up to them."
Derry City v Shamrock Rovers, 7.45
Derry City and Shamrock Rovers can go top of the Premier Division with a win after impressive starts to the season.
City will be without injured Gareth McGlynn (hamstring) and Conor McCormack as he serves a one-match ban for a red card against Dundalk.
"The big five are probably Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Cork, Galway, St Pats...even Bohs are in there as well. To break into that would be something we really want to achieve," manager Kenny Shiels told the BBC of Derry's excellent beginning under his management.
"After the Harps defeat, they dug in. They've worked hard together. They've developed a collective spirit," added Shiels.
"But we've got to reproduce that every week. That's the challenge."
Dean Clarke, Gary Shaw and Luke Byrne are injured for the Hoops, while Trevor Clarke is ill.
Galway United v Finn Harps, 7.45
Galway United bring a 100% home record into their clash with Finn Harps at Eamonn Deacy Park.
United have won all three of their home fixtures thus far against Bray Wanderers, the Mayo League and Bohemians.
Tommy Dunne's side are just three points off the top of the table as they welcome Harps to the west.
Armin Aganovic (knee) is ruled out for United.
Stephen Folan (toe), Kevin Devaney (ankle) and Alex Byrne (groin) are doubts for United.
"Finn Harps have started the season reasonably well," Dunne said
"They're picking up results, they're there or thereabouts in every match they've played in, so from our point of view, we're under no illusions in regards to the toughness of the game.
"They're a physical team that have good attacking options within their group, they're defensively strong, so we know that it will be difficult.
"They've come out of the First Division and settled quite quickly, we know what we're up against. We're at home and we'll be looking to win the match, but we know that if we don't play to our full potential, we won't have any chance of doing that."
Ciaran Coll and Ryan Curran are injury doubts for Harps. Barry Molloy, Sean Houston and Josh Mailey are definitely ruled out.
“We have played Galway six times since they came back into league and still haven't beaten them,” manager Ollie Horgan said.
“They have improved again since then so we will have a very difficult game ahead of us."
