All games 7.45pm
Cork City v Sligo Rovers
Cork City will be aiming to get back to winning ways after their last two games saw them suffer a defeat to Dundalk to Turner’s Cross and draw 1-1 away to Bohemians, which means John Caulfield’s side are in third place going into the game.
The visitors come into the game in ninth place, with one win, one draw and three defeats on their travels so far this season.
Manager Caulfield said that his side were looking to bounce back from recent disappointment: “Sometimes when you are down, you need a reaction, you need guys to bounce back; there is no hiding place. There is a long, long way to go, we need to refocus and get back to what we are good at.
“The target is three points. Sligo are good team, but they are probably disappointed themselves at how things have gone.”
Captain John Dunleavy will be sidelined for couple of months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury, while Alan Bennett is also ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Billy Dennehy, Mark O’Sullivan and Garry Buckley will be assessed closer to kick-off.
Sligo arrive on the back of a 1-1 draw with Limerick at the Showgrounds following a late equaliser by the visitors.
It was the third game from the last five played by Rovers to end in a draw, with the others being one win and one loss.
The two teams played on the first night of the season when Cork got a late equaliser to come away with a 1-1 draw.
Owen Heary takes his team on the long trip looking for a second away win of the season.
He said: “It’s great to be going to a ground where there has been such great crowds. It’s unbelievable for players to play in front of so many people. It will be a big step up for some of our young lads.
“They will enjoy the experience but even more so if they win. They will learn over the course of their careers about playing in front of crowds like this but they will be fully focused on the game.
“Once the game starts you tend to forget about what goes on in the stands and just focus on what you have to do.”
The Bit o’Red will again be without Gavin Peers (groin), while Morten Nielsen is struggling to be fit with a similar injury.
Bohemians v Limerick
Bohemians start the second cycle of league games playing Limerick, against whom they got off to a flying start with a 3-0 win two months ago.
Manager Keith Long is putting the first phase of the campaign behind him as he aims, game-by-game, to keep the Gypsies in the top half of the league.
After a “vital” point at home on Monday against Cork City, Long is looking to improve Bohemians’ Dalymount results.
Long notes that Limerick’s form has been improving and he expects a keen contest. “Limerick have picked up recently,” he said.
“They were unlucky not to win against Shamrock Rovers, they held league leaders Dundalk, and they got a late point up in Sligo.
"They’re looking to climb up the table and coming to Dalymount won’t hold any fear for them.”
Defender Anto Murphy is unlikely to be available as he is medically assessed for concussion.
The Shannonsiders are currently bottom and continue their search for a first win of the season having taken five points through five draws in the first round.
Last weekend’s 94th-minute equaliser at Sligo Rovers – thanks to the head of Paul O’Conor – saw Limerick close to within two points of Bray Wanderers.
And Russell felt it was a “well deserved” share of the spoils, which added to the previous weekend’s point against Shamrock Rovers.
“Again we showed some character in not lying down in searching for that equaliser. On the balance of the game, I think a point was well deserved,” Russell told LimerickFC.ie.
“We created chances in the first half; we had a couple of near misses where they got a couple of very vital tackles in. Ian Turner missed one where the ‘keeper came out into no-man’s land and Clarkey (Dean Clarke) also had the ‘keeper in no-man’s land.
“We deserved at least a point, which is what we got. Two wins for any of the sides around us and you can leap a few places. We’ll be looking for more points in the second phase of games which begins with Bohs away."
Captain Shane Duggan and O’Conor are expected to face late fitness tests ahead of the match.
Derry City v Galway United
Derry have only picked up one point from their last two games, that coming in last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Longford.
Ahead of the game against Galway United, Derrycityfc.net spoke to manager Peter Hutton about the game.
He said: “Galway have been a bit of a mixed bag of late. Prior to the defeat against St Pat’s they went away and won 5-0. It just shows they’re capable of getting results anywhere.”
“Enda Curran is on a great run of form. We remember him from his period here. He’s a good striker, but just didn’t settle here really."
The Candystripes will be without Stephen Dooley (back), Seamus Sharkey (concussion) and Patrick McEleney (groin).
All proceeds from the sale of the CityView match-day programmes will also be going towards the treatment for the striker, who is battling cancer.
The Tribesmen, seriously depleted, go into the fixture on the back of a heavy defeat at home to St Patrick’s Athletic.
Manager Tommy Dunne said: "Circumstances haven’t been ideal, preparation wise.
“I know what it’s like to play for, play against and manage against Derry City. It’s always difficult at the Brandywell. It’s still a tough venue for sides to visit.
“You need to be on your game and you also need a bit of luck on the day to get a positive result."
United will be without nine players. Kilian Cantwell (knee), Andy O’Connell (ankle), Jason Molloy (broken toe), Marc Ludden (knee), Kevin Garcia (hamstring), Sam Oji (hip), Ger Hanley (groin), Conor Barry (exams) and Alex Byrne (suspended) all miss the trip.
Drogheda United v Bray Wanderers
Drogheda United are in search of their first win in two months.
There is only a place and a point separating the sides for the game, with Drogheda above Bray in tenth though boss Johnny McDonnell stopped short of declaring it a must win.
He said: “It’s too early for me to call [the] game a six-pointer. It is an important match simply because it is the next match and it is a great opportunity to get three points particularly with us being so close together in the table.”
The Drogheda manager was in attendance at Oriel Park on Monday as the Seagulls shipped eight against Dundalk but he is wary of a backlash from a wounded animal.
“Bray were totally annihilated from start to finish which gives us no doubt that they will come out all guns blazing on Friday and we need to be prepared for that.”
Drogheda will be without Neil Yadolahi and Sean Thornton through injury and suspension respectively.
Bray travel to Louth with yet another caretaker in charge after Maciej Tarnogrodzki vacated his managerial role, citing a need for time to “reflect”.
The decision came after a run of poor results followed the Pole’s initial bright start at the helm.
St Patrick's Athletic v Shamrock Rovers
Unfortunately, the big Dublin derby fell victim to the weather and was postponed.
