Dundalk v Derry City
League leaders Dundalk host Derry City at Oriel Park on Friday and will be hoping to extend their unbeaten start to the season.
Last weekend's 2-0 victory away to Longford Town means that Stephen Kenny's side have dropped just four points all season and striker David McMillan is eager to see his side's great form continue.
"The games are coming thick and fast and we’re on a great run at the minute so we just have to stay in good form and not get complacent," he said.
"Every game is so difficult that we play so we know that we have to be on top of our game to get anything out of them. There are no easy games in this league and you see that every week with the way that results go.
"Derry City will be a different test altogether, they are a good side who are looking for points themselves. They are a tough team to play against and we got a really difficult game up in the Brandywell earlier in the season so we know how hard it will be."
Dundalk will be without the injured Brian Gartland, who will be sidelined for a number of weeks after suffering a hamstring injury last weekend.
Paddy Barrett is in line for his first league start for the club, while Sean Gannon picked up his fifth yellow card of the season but his suspension won’t kick in until next week. Stephen O’Donnell is back to full fitness and is pushing for a start as is John Mountney.
Derry travel to Dundalk without goalkeeper Gerard Doherty, who has a back injury and Patrick McEleney and Stephen Dooley are also on the treatment table and miss out.
The Candystripes, who come up against their former boss Stephen Kenny looking to get their first victory over the Oriel Park men in seven attempts, have not won in their last three league games.
Because of that recent form boss Peter Hutton admits people outside of the squad won’t be given his side a chance tomorrow night, but he’s expecting a response from his players.
"No one will give us a chance if you look at their last game and our last game," he explained.
"All the critics will be out waiting to pounce again but that’s part and parcel of the challenge and if I was a player and I was in this position I couldn’t wait; I’d be chomping at the bit to get at Dundalk.
"It’s massive challenge but let’s take them on. It is a big challenge but it’s one we should relish and having seen them in training our players will need no motivation to take on Dundalk."
Galway United v Bohemians
Fresh from a convincing 2-0 win over Derry City at the Brandywell, Galway United welcome Bohemians to Deacey Park for the first of a double-header with the Gypsies as they face them in the EA Sports Cup on Monday.
Manager Tommy Dunne is expecting a tough encounter and said: "Bohemians have enjoyed a solid start in the first series of games.
"As a club, they've done really well and they're a top four side on merit at the moment so we understand it will be a difficult task against them.
"I think Bohemians have shown that they're a very well organised, hard-working team, that has quality sprinkled all over the pitch so we have to be competitive and match them on the night.
"We've improved in recent weeks ourselves. We've won three out of five games so for us, the next step is to start picking up results against the top teams in the country. We feel we're not that far away."
On the injury front, Gary Shanahan required stitches to his forehead after a collision with Derry City goalkeeper Shaun Patton. He is due to have his stitches removed at the end of the week and his return will depend on a medical review of his wound.
Jason Molloy, Marc Ludden, Conor Barry and Andy O'Connell all remain sideline.
Bohemians remain unbeaten on the road this season and manager Keith Long is eager to extend that run. His side beat Limerick 2-1 at home last time out.
"Against Limerick last Friday we got the desired result and we’re pleased with that," he said
"But we switched off at times and Limerick came more and more into it. The equaliser woke us up and we created quite a number of chances in the last 15 minutes.
"We’ll have to play better in Galway. We will go there aiming to give a good account of ourselves and looking to pick up the three points. But we know it will be a difficult game."
Long insists he will not decide on possible team changes for Monday until the league match is out of the way. For Friday, he has a full squad to select from.
Anto Murphy missed the Limerick game on medical advice, following a mild concussion from the previous league match, but returned for Sunday’s fixture as captain on the day.
Shamrock Rovers v Longford Town
Shamrock Rovers need to start turning draws into victories if they are to avoid losing further ground to Champions Dundalk at the top the table.
Rovers are unbeaten this season but trail Dundalk by eight points, having drawn half of the 12 games they've played so far this season.
The Hoops were held to a scoreless draw with St Pat's last time out but manager Pat Fenlon doesn't believe that was a bad result.
“If we win on Friday it becomes a great point - that’s the difference and it’s what we have to do," he told the Irish Mirror.
"We went to Sligo and got a great win and dropped points at home to Bohemians. That’s the difference. We’ve got to make sure we win on Friday."
Fenlon is waiting on the fitness of Stephen McPhail, who picked up a knee knock during that game against Pat's, while Gary McCabe is expected to miss out with tonsillitis.
Longford team news to follow.
