NATIONAL LEAGUE: The league table may produce further tangible evidence of the continuing evolution of Waterford United under Alan Reynolds come the end of play tonight.
A home win over third-bottom St Patrick's Athletic and a defeat for leaders Shelbourne, who will be without Jason Byrne at Longford, will see Waterford join Pat Fenlon's side at the top of the table.
"I'm sure people would be very surprised at the thought that we could go joint top," said Reynolds. "With the matches coming thick and fast, it's something that I hadn't realised myself.
"But, listen, it's still very early days. We are just happy to be in touch. Never mind Shels, if we can finish above Bohs and Cork we will have had some season.
"At the minute we are ahead of them, but there is a long way to go. Injuries and suspension will take their toll. We'll just try to keep it going. Thankfully, there are no more midweek games and it should give us a chance to give players a rest."
While he has no control over what happens at Flancare Park, Reynolds just wants a third successive win tonight to set up next week's summit meeting against Shelbourne at Tolka Park before facing into two home games.
Utility player Dave Mulcahy returns to bolster Reynolds' options tonight, though striker Willie Bruton sits this one out as his shoulder/neck injury continues to cause concern.
St Patrick's give a fitness test on a calf strain to Colm Foley, their goalscorer against Longford. Left-back Karim El Khebir is fit again following a rib injury.
"I'd be happy for us to finish second bottom and then build on it from there for next season," said St Patrick's manager, John McDonnell. "I know that's not good enough for a club like St Pat's, but that's the reality of the situation."
Gerard Rowe is likely to come into a reshuffled Shelbourne side for their trip to Longford as Byrne, who has scored over half his side's goals this season, is out with the hamstring strain that forced him off in the 2-2 draw with Cork City on Tuesday night.
Running repairs are also required elsewhere as Jamie Harris (knee), Tony McCarthy (hamstring) and influential midfielder Jim Crawford (calf) are out. Scouts from at least one English club, due to watch John O'Flynn, will be disappointed as the Cork City striker is out with a thigh strain for the visit of Derry City to Turner's Cross.
Denis Behan could be set for his first league start of the season as Kevin Doyle is still not fit enough to start as he nurses a hamstring strain.
Derry, who may make an announcement on their new manager over the weekend, make one change from the side that earned its first win in nine games when beating Dublin City 2-1 on Tuesday. Youth international Gerard Gill is unavailable as he is sitting his leaving certificate. Davy Byrne is still sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Pierre Ennis is Dublin City's only fit defender for their home clash with Drogheda United, though manager John Gill is hoping that Wes Byrne will pass a fitness test on a hamstring strain.
