Limerick v Bohemians, Markets Field, 6.30pm
Limerick captain Shane Duggan says his team must “take each game as it comes” rather than target a points total ahead of their crucial clash against against Bohemians.
The Shannonsiders’ long wait for a first win of the season finally came to an end last weekend when they defeated Sligo Rovers 3-2, to move within seven points of the Bit O' Red at the foot of the table.
Having picked up five points in the first round, Limerick followed that up with just four in the second series, a total which leaves them with a mountainous task to hold on to their top-flight status going into the final three months of the campaign.
And Duggan – their 26-year-old hometown skipper – says while confidence levels have risen considerably this week that the Blues will still need help from all angles if they are to find safety.
“It’s every game as it comes now," he said. “We can’t really be looking at what points we need because you don’t know what the story is with the other teams. Sligo could go and beat Cork City on Saturday. It’s just the way this league is. We’re just going to have to concentrate on ourselves and take each game as it comes."
Bohs manager Keith Long is braced for a tough test. “Martin [Russell] has made changes and brought in new faces and, with the win over Sligo, the mood in their camp has got to be good," he said. "We’re wary of the threat that Limerick pose."
Ghanaian midfielder Prince Agyemang is ruled out for Longford with a knee injury, while left-back Colm Murphy is still struggling with a hamstring strain and will also miss out, although he has resumed light training.
Right-back Seán Harding has left the club by mutual consent, while centre-half Aidan Price has retired from the game to focus on managing Shamrock Rovers Under-17s.
For Bohs, Anto Murphy and Paddy Kavanagh return to the squad following suspension. Lorcan Fitzgerald’s recovery from hamstring injury has been slower than anticipated and he is likely to miss out. Derek Pender, Dan Byrne and Marc Griffin are long-term absentees.
Bray Wanderers v Drogheda United, Carlisle Grounds, 5.45pm
Bray Wanderers manager Mick Cooke admits victory over Drogheda would be "huge" as his side look to bounce back from last week's defeat to Dundalk.
Cooke is without goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness, who is still a few weeks away from a return to the first team following ankle ligament damage, while Adam Hanlon is out for another week after having fluid on his knee.
However the former Drogs boss is confident his team is showing signs of improvement.
"I felt that we were unlucky to lose against Dundalk last Friday," said Cooke. "We played well, defended strongly and attacked at pace while creating chances. We had more possession and ultimately we could have taken a point if not all three from the reigning champions.
"Saturday's game will be extremely tight. Drogheda are a good football side and Johnny (McDonnell) has them well drilled. Three points for us tonight would be huge."
Drogheda will go in search of their third successive win over Bray; however, they go into the game a point and two places behind the Seasiders in the table, after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers at United Park last Friday.
The Boynesiders are entering a crucial run of games as their next five opponents are sides currently in the bottom half of the table and McDonnell has acknowledged that this period could define their season.
"I only like to look at it one game at a time but I think 30 points will probably be enough to keep us up. That means we need to pick up three wins from the remaining games. Our last few games are against the top sides so it's vital that we get some more points on the board in the next few weeks."
Drogheda will be without the suspended pair of Alan Byrne and Joe Gorman, although Robert O'Reilly is expected to be available having been ill during the week. New additions to the first team squad, midfielder Nathan Seery and defender Mark O'Brien, will be available for selection pending FAI clearance.
Sligo Rovers v Cork City, The Showgrounds, 7.45pm
Micky Adams begins his tenure as Sligo Rovers manager at The Showgrounds tonight against Cork City.
Adams was appointed this week until the end of the season along with his assistant Alan Rogers and is expecting a tough challenge from the Rebels.
"My first impressions over the last couple of days of the squad is that it is very young and enthusiastic," he said. "They have worked very hard for us over the last couple of days in training. But saying that we would like to bring players in.
“The first thing that needs to be done is to lift morale and confidence in the team. It is important that the players are enjoying coming in to work, so we need to get confidence back into them.
“I have seen a few DVDs of Cork play so we are aware of their strengths, they are a very good side. They have a big, strong team with plenty of experience. We know that it will be a difficult one for us.”
Cork City boss John Caulfield is confident his side can overcome the tricky trip to Sligo.
City come into the game in excellent form, with eight wins and two draws from their last ten league fixtures, as they sit in second place in the table. Away from home, they are unbeaten so far this season and have four wins and five draws from their last five games on the road.
Sligo, in contrast, have endured a poor run of form in recent weeks and are second from bottom. Their last five home games have resulted in two wins, a draw and two defeats, however, those two reverses have come against St Pat’s and Dundalk.
Caulfield said: “Going to Sligo is always difficult, but if we play on top form then we believe we can get the three points.
"In the last number of weeks they have been struggling; they have been bringing a lot of young, local players through and the step-up is massive, but they have appointed a new manager who will probably change things around and it is very hard to know what to expect from them.”
Danny Ledwith will miss this game for Sligo with a quad strain but is expected to return to training next week. John Russell is out with a hip injury, Jeff Henderson is still recovering from a foot issue, while Kevin Devaney is also absent as he recovers from an ankle problem.
There is a slight doubt over Dinny Corcoran who missed the Limerick game last weekend with an ankle injury but he should be fit along with Sander Puri, Ruairi Keating and Keith Ward who is recovering from a virus.
Captain David Cawley is out of the fixture due to a suspension for picking up eight yellow cards this year. Rob Lehane, who scored on his debut last week at Limerick, is ineligible due to the terms of his loan from Cork City.
Cork's John Kavanagh has returned to training after a hamstring injury, but will not be considered for selection this week. Gavan Holohan is also ruled out with an ankle injury that is likely to sideline him for a number of weeks, while Darren Dennehy will miss out after suffering a setback in his recovery from a groin injury and will be assessed early next week.
