Shamrock Rovers v Cork City (Tolka Park, 7.45)

Dave Barry will be hoping for an improvement on last Sunday's form when his treble-chasing Cork City side come to Dublin this evening for the first leg of the League Cup Final. If Cork looked a little jaded in playing out a scoreless draw with Bohemians, they've scarcely had time to recharge their batteries and Rovers may believe they can catch them at a rare, vulnerable time.

Barry, however, believes the fact that it's a cup final will negate any after effects of what was regarded as his side's worst home display of the season. "We're in a Cup final and that should be enough in itself to have us focused," said Barry.

Barry is without suspended pair Kelvin Flanagan and Greg O'Halloran. Gareth Cronin, a second-half substitute on Sunday, is set to start his first game in six weeks following a cartilage operation. Dave Hill will push into central midfield. Just who plays on the right flank is Barry's chief selection concern. Patsy Freyne is the likely candidate.

Rovers will doubtless be hyped up with the added incentive that they've the ideal opportunity to avenge back to back league defeats last month.

Manager Mick Byrne is without injured trio Richie Purdy (collarbone), Brian Morrisroe (fractured ribs) and Mark O'Neill (knee) while Marc Kenny continues to carry a slight hamstring twinge.

Rovers will thus hardly be much changed from Friday night when they failed to fully recover from giving away a soft goal and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Dundalk.

"It may appear a good time to be playing Cork," said Byrne. "But I don't believe there is a good or bad time to play anyone. You simply have to get your own performance right."