Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda Utd (7.30)

Having seen his side survive the first game against the run of play, Rovers manager, Mick Byrne expects to make a couple of changes for this evening's replay at Tolka Park.

"We were lucky the other night, because on the balance of play over the 90 minutes they deserved to win. But that's the cup for you, if you perform and get a bit of luck you can still go through, and, hopefully, we'll be the ones to get it right tonight," he says.

Byrne will choose from the same panel of 14 for the game, but he seems more likely to start with Marc Kenny and Sean Francis this time out as he seeks to shuffle his deck and get the better of a steadily improving Drogheda side.

United are likely to stick with the same side which only equalised late on in the original fixture, but which hit the woodwork twice and turned in the more polished performance. " `Guarded confidence' probably best describes our attitude going up there," says Martin Lawlor. "We have nothing to fear from it and there's no lack of belief within the team that we can go through."

Winner will play: Athlone (away).

Betting: Home: 8 to 15, Draw: 5 to 2, Away: 6 to 1.

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).

Longford Town v Wayside Celtic (7.30)

"Aside," says Wayside boss Peter Lennon, "from one lad who might still be executed for missing a sitter near the end, we'll have the same panel available to us." The weather, though, will play a part in the approach taken by the Dubliners with the visiting side possibly rearranging things slightly if the ground proves to be considerably heavier than in the original match.

"It's very much a case of horses for courses," says Lennon, "and so we might change things to suit the conditions. Sunday was our first game in four weeks and we were a bit rusty, which I think showed a bit, but if we can take the ball down and play it around a bit more then I still think we can go through."

Longford, admits Lennon, defended well at the Golden Ball, and his opposite number, Michael O'Connor, reckons that, on the wider pitch and the crowd behind his men, they can go one step further this evening.

Once again, they are likely to have a full panel to pick from, although they may choose to alter the emphasis slightly as they prepare to push forward and try to win the tie on the night.

Winner will play: Whitehall Rangers (at home).

Betting: Home: 6 to 4, Draw: 2 to 1, Away: 2 to 1.

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).

Mervue United v Sligo Rovers (Terryland Park, 7.30)

Sligo manager Nicky Reid must have been a very relieved man when Marcus Hallows snatched his side's late equaliser on Sunday, but he will be under no illusions about how much better the visitors will have to do this evening if they are to progress to the second round.

Sunday's performance was, by all accounts, dismal, and even one or two Mervue officials admitted yesterday that they didn't think they would be fortunate enough to meet such below-par opposition in the replay.

The Sligo boss may choose to shake things up for the trip to Terryland, and the likely return from injury of Padraig Moran, as well as the availability following suspensions of Steve Birks and Lee Thew, should help.

Mervue, meanwhile, have a couple of worries. Both full-back Barry O'Sullivan and sweeper Noel McDonnell picked up injuries in the weekend's draw. If O'Sullivan, who fractured a bone in his hand and is rated as highly doubtful, does miss out, then Ger McGrath is the most likely candidate to come in, while, if McDonnell's back problem persists, then Tom Burke may fill in.

Winner will play: St Francis (at home).

Betting: Home: 5 to 1, Draw: 9 to 4, Away: 4 to 7.

Referee: T Tully (Cork).

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.