UCD v Bohemians, UCD Bowl, 5pm
The predictions about UCD so far this season are all coming true. The Students start the day at the foot of the table, and they're struggling to score goals.
Star forward Colm Whelan is lacking in confidence, having spurned a glorious chance to give the Students the lead at Richmond Park on Monday. He just needs one to go in and it should come back to the Kilkenny man, with his inclusion in the Ireland U21 squad during the week a boost.
Having failed to pick up a win in their last three games, ending two of those games with 10 men, Bohs will see this as a chance to give their campaign a shot in the arm.
Team news
Manager talk
Drogheda United v Dundalk, Head In The Game Park, 7.45pm
Drogheda have conceded more goals than any other club in the league, and they head into this evening's Louth derby with more defeats - four - than any other side either.
Dundalk, meanwhile, are one of three clubs yet to lose so far in 2022, but Stephen O'Donnell will know that if they're to launch a title bid they need to start converting draws, of which they've managed five, to wins.
Team news
Drogheda:
Dundalk: Steven Bradley returns after shaking off the quad injury that saw him miss the 0-0 draw with Shamrock Rovers while Darragh Leahy returned to full training this week after missing the opening six league games with an ankle injury that he sustained against Drogheda in the Malone Cup.
Manager talk:
Stephen O'Donnell (Dundalk): "I watched Drogheda's game with Sligo last week and they found themselves 3-0 down without doing too much to be 3-0 down. They had a couple of half-chances at nil-all and they have been competitive in every game, even if some of the scorelines haven't reflected that.
"They are a good team with threats in the attacking third, as we saw in the Jim Malone Cup, and Kevin will have them ready to go. It’s a derby, it’s a tight pitch and you don’t get anything easy up there. It’s going to be a tough game but it’s a great match to look forward to."
Shelbourne v Finn Harps, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
The Donegal side travel to Tolka Park tomorrow night after Shels drew 1-1 with Dundalk and Bohs in the past week ahead of the international week.
The Shels team received great praise for their jersey gesture to fans at Dalymount on Monday, though Duff said he has left Equipment Manager Johnny Watson in somewhat of a conundrum and a race to get new kit for their upcoming trip Sligo.
Harps head to Dublin with the exact same record as UCD - two points from five games, and a minus seven in the goals column.
Team news
Shels: Mark Coyle will face a late fitness test. JJ Lunney, Jack Moylan, Shane Griffin are still unavailable.
Finn Harps: Regan Donelon, Rob Slevin, Filip Mihaljević and David Webster are doubts
Manager talk
Damien Duff (Shelbourne): "We've been doing an awful lot of work on the training ground around set-pieces and what Finn Harps will have to offer but we are slowly, game by game, getting better at adding that quality I have been talking about the past couple of weeks.
"Ollie is an expert after all these years and the club is an expert in what it has been doing the past few seasons. You could argue we're favourites going into the game but absolutely not - they could very much be."
Ollie Horgan (Finn Harps): "We know all about the quality Shelbourne have at their disposal. Mark Coyle was a great servant to the club in his time here, while the likes of Sean Boyd and Dan Hawkins chipped in with a number of important goals and assists last season.
"We're disappointed not to have more points on the board at this stage as we feel our play in some games has merited better, but it’s up to us to go out and make it happen on the pitch."
Derry City v St Pat's, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
A really intriguing collision as two of the division's fancied sides square up.
Both team have started well: third-placed Derry have 11 points from their first five games and remain unbeaten with three wins and two draws; the Saints are one point ahead of them and top of the table after winning four of their six outings to date.
Derry do have a game in hand however and will see this as a big chance to lay down an early season marker.
Team news
Derry City: Michael Duffy fractured his tibia against Drogheda last Monday night and is facing a lengthy spell out. Joe Thomson and Patrick McEleney picked up knocks while Mattie Smith is recovering from illness. Derry will make a decision on all three on matchday.
St Pat's: Jamie Lennon [foot] is out. Ian Bermingham and Paddy Barrett pushing to be available.
Manager talk
Ruaidhri Higgins (Derry City): "St Pat's have great quality in their squad, especially in attack. They have really good options up front, but then again so have we. Friday nights at the Brandywell bring a special atmosphere and I'm hoping we can recreate that this week because it really gives the boys a lift."
Tim Clancy (St Pat's): "They've had a brilliant start. Ruaidhri Higgins has continued on from last season. When he went in, I think they were bottom of the league and then they ended up finishing in a European spot, so I think it shows the turnaround that Higgs made up there.
"They have an excellent squad so I have no doubt that at the end of the season, they will be there or there-abouts but we are going to prepare and go up and try and win the game."
Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers, Tallaght Stadium, 8pm
A real litmus test for the in-form Sligo Rovers who head to the reigning champions aiming to maintain their unbeaten start.
Shamrock Rovers had a scoreless draw away to Dundalk on Monday night following their Dublin derby win over Bohemians last Friday.
Team news
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus, Sean Gannon, Neil Farrugia and Sean Kavanagh are all available for selection after returning from a mixture of illness and injury.
Sligo Rovers: Goalkeeper Edward McGinty has recovered from illness while Greg Bolger is expected to be available again.
Manager talk
Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers): "They've had a very good start. They’ve conceded two goals and scored quite a few. They’ll come to Tallaght full of confidence I’m sure and be looking to take us on. It has the makings to be a really good game, so we’re looking forward to it."
Liam Buckley (Sligo Rovers): "We were happy with the way the two games went on Friday [Drogheda United] and Monday [Finn Harps]. I felt we played well in large spells of both games, but, as ever there is room for improvement.
"Shamrock Rovers had a great season last year and they’ve added some real talent again this season so we know how difficult the game will be. We have been playing well ourselves and go there knowing we can get a result."
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