Saturday

Longford Town v Galway United (7.30)

The home team welcome back Stephen O'Brien from suspension after last week's cup defeat but there is plenty for caretaker manager Derek O'Neill to ponder as he completes his preparations for this evening's game.

For a start, Alan Murphy looks to be out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage after a clash with Avery John while Alan McNally is reckoned to be very doubtful with a hip injury. Alan Reynolds (ankle) and Greg O'Halloran (ribs) both have problems, too, and will probably undergo fitness tests shortly before kick-off.

For United Darragh Sheridan is back from suspension but Mike Keane looks to be out of the running to play having picked up a knee injury during the last week.

Bobby Ryan's future at the club, meanwhile, looks very uncertain with Cork City and Shelbourne having offers for the midfielder turned down but only, apparently, on the basis that United are holding out for a bigger fee.

Last two seasons: 00/01: Longford 2 United 2, United 1 Longford 0, Longford 2 United 1; 01/02: United 1 Longford 1.

Leading scorers: Longford: Lavine (nine); United: Ryan (three).

Last five league games: Longford: DDWWW; United: LWLLL.

Betting: Home: 8/11, Draw: 9/4, Away: 100/30.

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).

Sunday

Monaghan United v Cork City (3.0)

Having been kicked when he was down by Thursday night's cup draw, Bobby Browne once again finds himself trying to cope with a whole string of injury problems in a the build-up to a game that would, even with a full squad, present a daunting challenge.

Derek Gill now looks to be out for the season with a groin problem while Trevor Vaughan is suspended and Derek McGrath will have a test on ankle problem tomorrow.

Long-term absentees Eddie Meier and John Carroll are also missing again but on the brighter side Jonathan King and Declan McDonnell return after missing last week's game on the basis of being cup-tied.

City will once again be without young Neal Horgan who will be rested in the hope of allowing him to recover from an ankle injury while Declan Daly is still ruled out by a stomach muscle strain.

In their absence, City boss Liam Murphy adds another of the club's younger faces to the squad with university international Michael McConroy coming into the reckoning.

Last two seasons: 00/01: Did not meet; 01/02: City 2 United 0.

Leading scorers: United: Vaughan (five); City: Cahill (six), Hartigan (five).

Last five league games: United: LDDLL; City: WLWWL.

Betting: Home: 7/2, Draw: 9/4, Away: 4/6.

Referee: J Breen (Dublin).

UCD v Shelbourne

Dermot Keely's side took all nine available points from the three league meetings of these two clubs last season, but with Paul Doolin having added some steel to the students' make up this year, the slide was halted in Tolka a couple of months back.

Now this looks like being an extremely tricky one for the visitors even allowing for the fact that they have been in absolutely flying form over the past few weeks.

For the hosts John Martin is rated as a doubt due to a minor hamstring problem and if he does miss out, then either Greg O'Dowd or David Quinn will come in to play on the right-hand side of midfield.

Shelbourne, meanwhile, have Brian Byrne back following a spell out with tendonitis but Richie Baker is still struggling with a groin problem and older brother Dessie is out for the season with cruciate ligament damage.

Kevin Doherty was taken off last week when suffering with an ankle problem but it is expected that the defender will be okay while Wes Houlihan should also be fine after missing a couple of days of training this week.

Last two seasons: 00/01: UCD 0 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 3 UCD 1, UCD 1 Shelbourne 2; 01/02: Shelbourne 0 UCD 1.

Leading scorers: UCD: R Martin (eight); Shelbourne: Geoghegan (six).

Last five league games: UCD: WLLDW; Shelbourne: WWDWW.

Betting: Home: 11/5, Draw: 2/1, Away: 11/10.

Referee: H Whoriskey (Dublin).

Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick's Ath

Last weekend's cup win in Cork should help to get Rovers back on track after the two consecutive league defeats that cost them their lead at the top of the table but it will be far from easy to continue the winning run against a St Patrick's side not easily turned over in Inchicore.

Rovers, though, are at full strength with Billy Woods, who had been scheduled to miss the game through suspension, now cleared to play after an appeal and it it is hard to see where Damien Richardson would change the side that won 1-0 at Turner's Cross.

The "visitors" are still without Liam Kelly up front and it is likely that it will be another two or three weeks before the striker recovers sufficiently from torn ankle ligaments to feature in the first team.

Paul Osam continues to struggle between games with a knee problem but is, as usual, expected to soldier on come match time while Mbabazi has a bit of a bit of a hamstring but should also be all right to start tomorrow.

Last two seasons: 00/01: Rovers 1 St Patrick's 2, St Patrick's 0 Rovers 1, Rovers 1 St Patrick's 1; 01/02: St Patrick's 2 Rovers 1.

Leading scorers: Rovers: T Grant and Francis (eight apiece); St Patrick's: Mbabazi (10).

Last five league games: Rovers: WDWLL; St Patrick's: LWDWW.

Betting: Home: 5/4, Draw: 2/1, Away: 15/8.

Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).

Bohemians v Bray Wanderers (6.30)

The cup win in Longford may have been important to Stephen Kenny for all sorts of reasons but the real test for the new Bohemians manager starts tomorrow evening in Dalymount where the home side will be desperate not to lose a game that has a touch of the "six pointer" about it.

While Kenny has had Avery John back from injury for the past week or so, Colin Hawkins (knee) and Stephen Caffrey (hamstring) are both still reckoned to be very doubtful for this game while Dave Hill is back training but not yet match fit.

Bray must do without Eddie Gormley and his absence is likely to spark something of a reshuffle with Stephen Fox dropping into midfield and Jason Byrne returning to the Wanderers attack alongside Paul Keegan.

The club's recent improvement in form has been greatly helped by Matt Gregg's three successive clean sheets but their league form away to Dublin clubs has been fairly miserable of late with just one win in 10 attempts.

Last two seasons: 00/01: Bohemians 3 Wanderers 1, Wanderers 3 Bohemians 1, Bohemians 1 Wanderers 0; 01/02: Wanderers 0 Bohemians 0.

Leading scorers: Bohemians: Crowe (12); Wanderers: J Byrne (six), Keegan (five).

Last five league games: Bohemians: LDDLL; Wanderers: LLLWW.

Betting: Home: Evens, Draw: 2/1, Away: 12/5.

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).

FAI Cup (second round replay)

Rockmount v St Kevin's Boys (1.0)

Both teams have been given plenty to play for tomorrow afternoon by Thursday evening's draw which paired the winners with Derry City in the next round and the suspicion is that, after surviving the trip to Dublin, it is the Corkmen that Kevin Mahon's side will end up facing.

Both sides should be much as they were for last weekend's original tie but as last season's junior cup finalists travel south in the hope of pulling off a shock, the hosts will be hoping that Alan Martin has sufficiently recovered from a back injury to play this time around.