Today
Derry City v Bohemians (3.0)
It's been a forgettable start for the champions with points dropped in unlikely places and a chronic lack of goals produced but Derry are almost back to full strength for this, the first televised game of the new season.
James Keddy is suspended but Gavin Dykes is back after missing last week's match due to family commitments while Liam Coyle, Tom Mohan and Tony O'Dowd are all pretty much back to full fitness after injuries.
"We can cope with losing one or two," says Derry manager Felix Healy, "but as everybody knows we don't have the squad to go without four or five which is what has been happening for the last few weeks. Still, they're nearly all back now and we'll be hoping to start getting things back on track."
At Bohemians, meanwhile, there are growing problems in defence where in addition to the absence of Robbie Best (out for the season with a cruciate problem) and Maurice O'Driscoll (groin strain), James Coll is doubtful for this afternoon's tie after taking a knock to his knee in last week's eight-goal hammering of Kilkenny. On the brighter side, however, Derek McGrath may figure in Turlough O'Connor's reckoning for the first time since picking up a foot injury in the win over Finn Harps.
Last season: Bohemians 1 Derry 1, Derry 1 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 0 Derry 2.
Recent league form: Derry: DDLDL Bohemians: DWDDW
Leading scorers: Derry: L Coyle, Hutton, Keddy (1 each); Bohemians: Lawlor (5).
Betting: Home: 11/8, Draw: 7/4, Away: 9/4.
Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).
Kilkenny City v Shamrock Rvs (7.30)
These two have enjoyed contrasting fortunes in the opening few weeks and both will be disappointed with last week's defeats even if neither is in too strong a position to change that much around.
Kilkenny, in particular, will need a solid performance to restore confidence and from the same squad of 14 players, manager Alfie Hale is likely to make the three possible changes to the starting line-up.
"We need to change things around a bit but, more than that, we need to change the attitude," he says. "Last week we couldn't even spell defence and we have to improve a great deal if we are to survive."
Hale is still without long-term injuries, Paul Cashin and Paul Devereux, and there was a further blow this week with the news that Pascal Keane has decided to retire due to the growing demands of work.
Last season: Did not meet.
Recent league form: Kilkenny: LLWLL; Rovers: WDDWL.
Leading scorers: Kilkenny: Hale (3); Rovers: Cousins (4).
Betting: Home: 100/30, Draw: 9/4, Away: 4/5.
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).
Tomorrow
St Patrick's Athletic v UCD (2.30)
St Patrick's Athletic return home after putting a stop to Cork City's runaway start last week but this one could be tricky for them too as the Students finally kick-started their own campaign and will be looking to get a momentum going.
Once again Paul Osam and Eddie Gormley are the main injury worries for the home side, although both have appeared in starting line-ups already this season despite carrying knocks and may well do so again.
Ricky O'Flaherty, Jason Byrne and Paul Campbell, on the other hand, are all back in the reckoning after recent injuries.
For UCD, Robert McAuley's bout of the flu is the main concern with Declan Fitzgerald waiting in the wings. In the longer term there is good news with Terry Palmer now back in training and hoping to be back to match fitness in another few weeks.
Last season: UCD 0 St Patrick's 1, St Patrick's 1 UCD 1, UCD 2 St Patrick's 0.
Recent league form: St Patrick's: DWWLW; UCD: LDLDW.
Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Molloy (3); UCD: Sherlock (3).
Betting: Home: 1/2, Draw: 9/4, Away: 7/1.
Referee: B Barry (Waterford).
First Division
After seeing his men hold Waterford to a goalless draw last weekend, Longford Town manager Michael O'Connor is unlikely to make any changes for this evening's visit to Cobh Ramblers. Ciaran Rooney and Frankie Larkin are still out injured and so the former Athlone boss will look to an unchanged side to beat the Southerners and lift themselves off the foot of the table.
Limerick travel to St Francis tomorrow when the Dubliners are likely to bring former Shamrock Rovers defender Terry Berry back into the starting line up. Tony Marshall is likely to miss the game due to shin splints but manager Pete Mahon is hopeful that Thomas Clark will be fit again following a recent facial injury.
