National League: Bohemians manager Stephen Kenny has his fingers crossed that he doesn't lose Glen Crowe, the league's joint leading scorer, to add to Friday night's loss of the leadership of the Premier Division table for the second time in a fortnight.

Crowe strained a calf muscle in that 1-0 home defeat to title rivals Shelbourne and will have to prove his fitness today if he's to start this evening's game against Kenny's former club Longford Town at Dalymount Park.

Kenny also waits on the versatile Thomas Heary, who has suffered a recurrence of a thigh problem. Defender Jason McGuinness rejoins the squad following suspension.

"Longford have had two very good wins over St Pat's and Shamrock Rovers, in which they also kept clean sheets, so they are in good form," said Kenny, whose side trail Shelbourne by two points.

"It's not in our hands now and all we can do is play Longford and see how it goes."

While Longford have been given clearance for their Ireland under-20 players Seán Dillon and Stephen Paisley to be involved despite the rest of Gerry Smith's World Cup squad having met up yesterday, manager Alan Matthews is unlikely to play either player.

Paisley has a slight thigh strain anyway, while Dillon, whose recent form for the cup winners resulted in his late call-up for the United Arab Emirates-bound squad, will only play if needs be.

Graham Gartland, who, like Dillon, could play in either of the full-back positions, returns from suspension leaving Sean Prunty (back) as Matthews' only likely absentee.

"You've always got to look after yourself. Nobody else is going to do you any favours and nobody would expect us to do them any favours," said Matthews of the fact that Longford are safe and have nothing tangible to play for.

"We've won the last two games and we want to maintain that."

Their leadership regained, Shelbourne have in-form winner Richie Baker returning from suspension to join a fully fit squad for their meeting with Drogheda United at Tolka Park.

That presents manager Pat Fenlon with a selection headache as Wes Hoolahan performed well in Baker's stead at Dalymount.

A return to their form prior to Friday's 2-1 defeat at UCD is what Drogheda manager Paul Doolin wants as his side hope to finally steer clear of the bottom two.

"It looked as if we didn't have anything in us in the second half at Belfield," said Doolin, whose side also meet Bohemians on Friday.

"I would hope that we can raise our game again against Shelbourne."