Cork City v Shamrock Rovers, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm
Cork City are desperate to bounce back from last week’s last-gasp defeat to Dundalk - a result that saw the Lilywhites go top - and they welcome Shamrock Rovers to Turner’s Cross seeking a 12th home win in a row.
That Oriel Park defeat brought a run of seven consecutive wins to an end, but Cork do have a 100% record at home this season; their last outing at Turner’s Cross saw them edge past Bohs 1-0.
Rovers come into the game in good form, returning from the break with a 2-0 home win over Derry City, their third league win in a row. Their last away game saw them record a 2-0 victory in Limerick.
This will be the third meeting of the teams this season, and they have enjoyed a win apiece. At Turner’s Cross in March, a Kieran Sadlier goal was the difference, while two first-half goals helped Rovers on their way to a 3-0 win at Tallaght in April.
Team news
Cork City: Alan Bennett, Steven Beattie, Damien Delaney, Karl Sheppard, Colm Horgan and Barry McNamee have all had knocks and are being assessed ahead of the game.
Shamrock Rovers: Sean Boyd picked up an injury in the Leinster Senior Cup defeat to Dundalk on Monday night.
Gaffer talk
John Caulfield (Cork City): "We are two points off top, we were top up to last Friday and this bunch of lads have done really well. We have to make sure that we do not lose our focus. This is a huge game for us. We have 11 wins on the bounce at home and we must make sure that we give a performance that will get us the three points."
Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers): "We know going down to Cork we're up against it. I think they were unlucky to be beaten last week, they made chances and they'll want to put that right tomorrow night and get all three points. It's a difficult place to go but I feel that if we play to our levels we're more than a match for anyone in the league."
Derry City v Limerick, the Brandywell, 7.45pm
Derry are in a rut at the moment but they've a golden opportunity to notch three points against a Limerick outfit really struggling.
Conor Clifford and Brendan Clarke have departed the cash-strapped club who are second bottom, ahead of only Bray, mired in an even deeper crisis.
Derry have a Europa League tie with Dinamo Minsk on the horizon so a victory here to put pressure on fourth-placed Shamrock Rovers would be a welcome boost.
Team news
Derry City: New signings Ben Fisk and Danny Seaborne are both in the frame to start but Dean Shiels must serve a one-game suspension left over from his time at Denfermline. Aaron Splaine and Ally Roy are awaiting international clearance.
Limerick: Academy defender Tomás O’Connor, 17, has been promoted to the first-team squad. Centre-half Eoin Wearen (shin splints) is doubtful, as are attackers Will Fitzgerald (hip) and Colm Walsh-O’Loghlen (knee).
Gaffer talk
Kenny Shiels (Derry City): "We know it’s a game we really need to win in terms of that top three or four places but just as importantly we want to get our positivity back. You could see six weeks ago just how big a difference that positive energy made to the team and the players individually and we need to rediscover that."
Tommy Barrett (Limerick): "Derry are a good side who have beaten us well twice. They have good attacking players and play good attacking football. We want to keep it as tight as possible, for as long as possible, but we also want to play positively and impose ourselves on the game."
St Pat's v Dundalk, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
Mac's back.
Dundalk can make it ten league wins on the bounce at St Pat's and have been further buoyed by the double signing of Patrick McEleney - back after a six-month spell with Oldham - and striker Georgie Kelly.
Both could feature tonight having received international clearance.
Pat's have brought in keeper Brendan Clarke from Limerick and he could be in line for a debut, though Conor Clifford - also acquired from Limerick - will have to wait for his first appearance as he's nursing an ankle problem.
The Lilywhites travel to Estonia to face FCI Levadia Tallinn in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League next week. Another three points would be the perfect tonic ahead of tat mission.
Team news
St Pat's: New signing Brendan Clarke comes into contention having re-joined the club from Limerick. The Saints however are without the services of fellow new signing Conor Clifford as he recovers from an ankle injury, while striker Christy Fagan also misses out through a knee injury.
Dundalk: New signings Patrick McEleney and Georgie Kelly are available for selection for the trip after receiving international clearance. Captain Stephen O'Donnell remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a broken leg while John Mountney made his return from a medial knee injury on Monday in the Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final win over Shamrock Rovers. He is doubtful however due to injury.
Gaffer talk
Liam Buckley (St Pat's): "It will be a really difficult game. Dundalk are on a great run of form at present which has taken them to the top of the table. Stephen has added to his squad this week as well with some excellent signings so we know we are playing a very strong team."
Stephen Kenny (Dundalk): "The players are very focused. We want to keep winning games and maintain that form. You get nothing easy in Inchicore against St Patrick's Athletic. It's going to be a difficult game for us but we want to win the game and we are firmly focused on that."
Waterford FC v Bohemian FC, RSC, 7.45pm
Bohs travel to the RSC on a mission to avenge two previous losses to third-placed Waterford and pull themselves further away from the bottom two.
The Gyspies have been on the wrong side of two 1-0 scorelines against the Blues. In the RSC in March, Keith Long's men were architects of their own downfall as a mistake at the back allowed Sander Puri claim all three points.
More frustratingly, a sucker-punch from Courtney Duffus and an inability to convert chances combined to see Bohs lose when the sides met again in Dalymount in May in a game they dominated.
Waterford meanwhile will look to keep a firm hold on third.
They come into the game on the back of a 3-2 win away to Sligo Rovers last Saturday night. Stanley Aborah and John Martin had the Blues in a commanding position before Sligo levelled. But Bastien Hery fired home the winning goal to ensure three points on their return from the mid-season break.
Team news
Waterford FC: Garry Comerford (foot) misses out again but Rory Feely returns from suspension. John Martin (ankle) is unavailable after an injury picked up in Sligo and will be out for a number of weeks. Gavan Holohan continues to struggle with a shoulder injury while Paul Keegan remains a doubt with a calf problem. Noel Hunt, Noe Baba, Dessie Hutchinson and Carlos 'Rudy' Wilson are awaiting international clearance.
Bohemian FC: Loanee Dylan Watts played his last game for the club against St Pat's after his loan deal and contract with Leicester City expired. There were two late withdrawals ahead of last week's game. Dinny Corcoran (groin) remains a doubt, but Keith Buckley (bug) returns. Ryan Swan (cruciate) remains out.
Gaffer talk
Alan Reynolds (Waterford): "We’re in a good position but we need to keep moving the club on. We’ve played 26 league games so have just 12 league games and the cup still to play. The lads are focussed and ready for the challenge of keeping our season going well."
Keith Long (Bohs): "They're in a good position in the league and have proved difficult opposition for any team this season. But we have shown on our day that we are a match for anyone. Our day has to come more often than it has done."
