Saturday
Derry City v Longford Town (7.45)
Both teams have plenty of problems ahead of their first game with Derry missing five and their visitors expecting to be without a similar number. Liam Coyle, Eddie McCallion and James Quigley are suspended for City while David Platt is ruled out by illness and Gary Beckett is carrying a groin strain.
John Connolly (not the one with Dundalk) has been signed as goalkeeping cover for Platt while Kevin Mahon will start with two from Darren McCaul, Brendan Devlin and Billy Garnon up front. John O'Loughlin will make his debut on the right side of midfield.
Stephen Kewnny can call on young locals Henry Kenny and John Rogers while Robbie Farrell, Alan Murphy and Colin Notaro are amongst those who are fairly certain of debuts.
Last season: did not meet.
Betting: Home: 1/2; Draw: 5/2; Away: 5/1.
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
UCD v Kilkenny City (7.0)
The home side are having to cope with much higher expectations this year than in any of their previous seasons but Martin Moran does have the bulk of his squad fit and ready for the new campaign.
Peter Hanrahan is suffering from the achilles problem that prematurely ended last season for him while Tony McDonnell is out with a toe problem. Otherwise Ciaran Kavanagh is the main doubt with a hip strain.
Pat Byrne has a full squad to pick from and Eoin Mullen will be amongst well known faces appearing for the visitors for the first time.
"It's a tough one to start with," says Byrne "because they are a good side who really came into their own last year but we'll go into it the way we'll go into every game this year, trying to win, and we'll see what happens."
Last season: Did not meet.
Betting: Home: 4/7; Draw: 9/4; Away: 5/1.
Referee: E Barr (Dublin).
Sunday
Cork City v St Patrick's Athletic (2.0)
Both teams will want to show that they are capable of being serious contenders this season. City are more or less at full strength after the midweek European game but manager Derek Mountfield is likely to revert to 4-4-2 after playing in Switzerland with just Pat Morley up front. The club are continuing their efforts to bring in Padraig Moran from Sligo Rovers but for the moment John Caulfield or Noel Hartigan are likely to be the players in the hunt for the second striking position.
The visitors have three suspended with Paul Osam, Keith Doyle and Donal Broughan all obliged to sit out the game. Jamie Harris is also reckoned to be doubtful with an ankle strain.
Last season: Cork City 1 St Patrick's Ath 0, St Patrick's Ath 2 Cork City 0, Cork City 1 St Patrick's Ath 1.
Betting: Home: evens; Draw: 9/4; Away: 9/4.
Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).
Shelbourne v Bray Wanderers (3.15)
League champions Shelbourne will be forced into making a few changes from the side that did so well in Rosenborg with neither Davy Byrne (shin) nor Stephen Geoghegan (ankle) expected to be fit in time. Pat Scully should return while Tony McCarthy will probably shake off an achilles strain.
With Geoghegan out Dermot Keely has a few alternatives up front with the two Bakers having done well there in Norway. Wanderers, meanwhile, will be without Mick Doohan and Alan Byrne, due to suspension. Stephen Fox (ankle) is also a worry ahead of what should be a tough early test.
Last season: Did not meet.
Betting: Home: 2/5; Draw: 5/2; Away: 13/2.
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
