Cork City v Dundalk, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm.
For many seasons, clashes between these two clubs would have gone a big way towards deciding the destination of the Premier Division title.
Things are little bit different this yea as, although The Lilywhites go into the game top of the table, Cork are recovering from a slow start which saw them part company with 2017 title winning manager John Caufield.
City have taken six points from their two games since John Cotter took over on an interim basis, while Dundalk have won six of their last seven. So this one has more promise than it might have had even a month ago.
Team news
Cork City: Cian Murphy is definitely ruled out, while Gearóid Morrissey, Dan Casey, Graham Cummins and Pierce Phillips have all suffered with knocks during the week and will be assessed ahead of the game.
Garry Buckley misses out through suspension.
Dundalk: Robbie Benson continues his recovery from a broken leg while Jamie McGrath is also out with a foot injury. Stephen Folan is back in training and Sean Murray returned to the lineup last weekend and is in line to feature once again.
Sean Hoare serves a one-match suspension for accumulating five yellows. Daniel Kelly will be assessed before the game however Jordan Flores is nearing full fitness. Top scorer Patrick Hoban returns to the squad after serving his one match suspension.
Gaffer talk
John Cotter (Cork City interim manager): "Training has been very good; the two wins have helped to build a bit of confidence and, hopefully, we can go out tomorrow and put in another good performance in front of a good crowd."
"Dundalk were missing a few key players earlier in the season, so there was no doubt that they would climb up the table when they got them back. We have had some great games against them over the years and hopefully tomorrow will be another."
John Gill (Dundalk manager): "It has been a great rivalry between ourselves and Cork City over the past few years. There have been some great battles between the two sides and tomorrow will be no different.
"We have huge respect for Cork City. We are looking forward to what will be a difficult game against a very good side."
UCD v Shamrock Rovers, UCD Bowl, 7.45pm.
Shamrock Rovers head to Belfield in a vein of form that has seen them overtaken at the top of the table by Dundalk. The Hoops have only one win in their last four in the league, but they couldn't be taking on Collie O'Neill's side at a better time.
Early season optimism of a fight for the top-six, rather than a battle against relegation, has evaporated for UCD. Six defeats on the spin, including Finn Harps recording their only win of the season so far against College a couple of weeks ago, has left them just three points off the bottom of the table.
It's also exam season on campus, so an already small UCD squad is further depleted as a result.
Teams news
UCD: Evan Osam is a long-term injury absentee, while Timmy Molloy, Luke Boore, Dan Tobin, and Kevin Coffey miss the game because of exam commitments.
Shamrock Rovers: Sean Kavanagh and Sam Bone are still a couple of weeks away for Rovers, but James Furlong is available for selection.
Gaffer talk
Collie O'Neill (UCD manager): "Shamrock Rovers have been flying so far this season playing some great football. After completing the pro-licence with Stephen, he was one of the stand out candidates on the course and it’s no surprise his team are competing for the league title this year, they have been by far the best team we have played."
Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers manager): "They’ve been on the wrong end of results but they’ve been in every game, they’re creating chances and they’ll be dangerous. I don’t think UCD will change their style of play from Tallaght. Every game for us is about getting points on the board and the next two are no different. We’ll approach them like we do every game."
St. Patrick's Athletic v Bohemian FC, Richmond Park, 7.45pm.
Two clubs who have run into some turbulence ahead of a Dublin Derby this evening.
Pats have followed up three wins on the bounce, with just one point in the succeeding three games. Bohs have lost their last two games, having picked up 10 points from a possible 12 before that.
Something has to give in Inchicore, and if they want to keep a title challenge going, Keith Long's side need to get back to winning ways.
Team news:
St Pats: Kevin Toner returns suspension for Harry Kenny, but Dean Clarke remains out as he continues his return from injury.
Bohs: The game will come too soon for Rob Cornwall (Achilles), Conor Levingston (foot) and Danny Grant (knee). Keith Ward (foot) is a doubt. Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remains out.
Gaffer talk
Harry Kenny (St Pats manager): "We need to get more consistency in our play. We had three good wins in a row, and then two defeats before last week’s draw. Pat’s and Bohs is always a big derby game. We had a good crowd in Dalymount earlier in the season, and I imagine Bohs will have a good crowd themselves this Friday in Inchicore."
Keith Long (Bohs manager): not available
Plenty of thrills and spills at the Regional Sports Ground as @WaterfordFCie and @sligorovers played out a six-goal thriller #SoccerRepublic #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/2d4nqXRIEa
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) May 12, 2019
Finn Harps v Waterford FC, Finn Park, 8pm.
For the first time this season, Finn Harps are preparing for a game off the back of a victory after their 3-0 victory over UCD last time out.
Harps are still bottom of the table, but another three points would likely suffice to move them up to ninth. However they go into the game with a weakened squad, owing to injuries and suspensions.
Waterford make the arduous journey of nearly 400 KMs off the back of some indifferent form. They've scored and conceded six goals in their last three league games, so manager Alan Reynolds will be looking to find a bit more of a balance in his team's performances.
Team news
Finn Harps: Gareth Harkin, Mark Timlin, Harry Ascroft, and Ciaran Gallagher are all out injured, while Sam Todd, Keith Cowan, Mark Coyle, and Caolan McAleer are suspended.
Waterford: The visitors are missing Kenny Browne, Dean Walsh and Kevin Lynch.
Gaffer talk
Ollie Horgan (Finn Harps manager): "You have the likes of JJ Lunney, Shane Duggan, Hery, Akinade, Drina and Georgie Poynton who are excellent footballers going forward. They will take some watching from our lads and at the same time we’ll have to find ways of getting at them and scoring. Ideally we need to score first and see where it goes from there."
