St Pat's v Derry City, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
Liam Buckley has targeted the scalp of high-flying Derry City to get his side's league campaign back on track in Inchicore on Friday night.
Having lost their last two league games away to Bray Wanderers and Cork City, Buckley's charges had a morale-boosting 3-2 extra-time win over Bray Wanderers in the EA Sports Cup on Monday.
Now Buckley is eyeing victory over third-placed Candystripes to kick on again.
"Derry are going very well this season to date and had a great win in the EA Sports Cup during the week so we're expecting them to be full of confidence. They will come to Inchicore for the win so we have to be at it from the get go," Buckley told stpatsfc.com.
"We needed the win on Monday to bounce back for the two defeats before that so hopefully the players can carry that form through on Friday. It's been a few weeks since we've been in Richmond Park so we need to put on a performance for the fans and if we can do that, hopefully we can get the three points."
The Saints' progression to the EA Sports Cup semi-finals has coincided with the return of young striker Jamie McGrath, though they remain without the services of Christy Fagan through injury, while both Jack Bayly (thigh strain) and Conor O'Malley (ankle) also miss out.
Gareth McGlynn is back for the visitors. He hasn’t started since picking up an injury against Dundalk on 1 April and is likely to be on the bench.
Dean Jarvis and Aaron Barry are both on the comeback trial and could figure, but Harry Monaghan (knee) is still out.
Dundalk v Galway United, Oriel Park, 8pm
Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny is braced for a tough night at the office as the champions return to Oriel Park after back-to-back away wins.
The Lilywhites host Galway United on the back of a 2-0 win at Dalymount Park against Bohemians, following up victory at Shamorck Rovers with another good display in the capital.
That stretched their their lead at the top of the table to four points with Cork City now in second place on 21, Derry City are third on 20 with Galway and Shamrock Rovers tied in fourth on 18 apiece.
However, Kenny warned there's no room for complacency.
"From our point of view we have had two very good wins in Dublin the past couple of weeks against Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium and Dalymount Park. The motivation is to now continue that good form back at home to Galway United who have had a good start to the season.
"Our motivation is high and we are expecting a tough challenge and the players are in good form so we want to continue in that vein.
Dundalk are without long-term absentees Ciaran Kilduff and Ciaran O’Connor who have back and foot injuries respectively while captain Stephen O’Donnell remains on the sideline with an ankle ligament injury.
Patrick McEleney missed last weekend’s trip to Dalymount due to a hamstring injury and has been ruled out.
Galway boss Tommy Dunne wants a reaction from his players at Oriel Park after a slump in form.
"Everybody knows that travelling to Oriel Park is a tough task and it's always difficult to pick up points there," the Dubliner remarked.
"Derry City and Cork City have gotten results there this season, we feel if we play to our potential, we can pick up a result also. It's a tough game, but we're looking forward to the challenge.
"Dundalk are a very strong outfit, from goalkeeper right through to their bench. They're free scoring at the moment and they've got threats all over the pitch, even their back four weigh-in with goals.
"We're looking for a better performance. We were disappointed with our performance levels in our last two games against Longford and Limerick. Make no mistake about it, if you don't perform, you're not going to get anything from Oriel Park."
Stephen Folan (back injury) and Padraic Cunningham (knee) are both unavailable. Captain Ryan Connolly is doubtful with a calf injury. Kevin Devaney (leg) is also a doubt.
After a three month lay-off, Armin Aganovic made his United debut against Limerick in the EA Sports Cup and the Swedish centre-half came through the 90 minutes at the Markets Field unscathed, so he returns to the fold.
The league's top scorer, Vinny Faherty, has been given the all-clear after coming through the return to play protocol without issue.
Finn Harps v Bohemians, Finn Park, 8pm
Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan has insisted Bohemians are in a false position and will soon push their way back up the league.
Harps currently sit one point and one place above Bohs in seventh ahead of Friday night’s game and will hope to extend that advantage if they can turn over the Dublin side at the weekend.
“Bohemians are an excellent club and have a very strong side both physically and technically,” Horgan said.
“On paper they have a far better side than ourselves but we will try to make it difficult for them when they come to Finn Park."
Harps’ record against Bohemians makes for miserable reading. Although they haven’t met since 2008, Bohs are unbeaten in their last twelve meetings against Harps – winning ten. Harps’ last victories came during the 1998-99 season when they beat the Dublin side in each of their three meetings during that Premier Division campaign.
They go into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw in Wexford last Friday night. While Harps would have accepted that result ahead of the game, the fact that they outplayed their opponents in the opening half and led through Ryan Curran’s penalty at the break, it could be argued that it was a case of two points dropped instead of one gained.
“The Wexford game last week was a game of two halves,” said Horgan.
“We were the better team in first half but were second best in second half,” he continued. “The game could have gone either way but we were hanging on in the end and glad to come home with a point in the bag.”
Barry Molloy returned to the Harps squad last week for the first time since the opening game of the season and appeared as a second-half substitute in the game in Wexford.
Dave Scully is back after missing the trip to Wexford through suspension. Josh Maiey (groin), Micheal Rafter (ankle), Raymond Foy (hamstring) and Matthew Crossan (knee) remain sidelined.
Damien McNulty, Kevin McHugh, Adam Hanlon and Keith Cowan are all carrying knocks and are doubtful.
Gypsies boss Keith Long has told his side it's time to start turning in 90-minute performances.
Bohs have been cursing their luck in recent weeks as, despite several periods of dominance, they have come away both pointless and without scoring in league meetings with Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Dundalk.
Long said: "We have a group of lads who are all working really hard. I've said it before, but if we maintain that effort and build upon it, our luck will change.
"We've played great in patches throughout the season. Now we need to replicate that for the whole game and give 90-minute performances.
"We have to start making the most of games when we're in the ascendancy and ultimately we need to start putting the ball in the net."
Long is once again without Ismahil Akinade (hamstring), Jason Caffrey (hamstring) and Adam Evans (virus). James Kavanagh (virus) will also sit this one out, but Eoin Wearen (hip) is back in contention.
