FAI National League previews

Saturday

Derry City v Finn Harps

Harps have a couple of worries with Alex Nesovic (flu), Tom Mohan (back injury) and Neil Fitzhenry (thigh) all doubtful. The hosts will have to wait to see whether Gary Beckett (groin) is fit enough to start but otherwise Kevin Mahon has a full panel to choose from.

Last season: Harps 1 Derry 1, Derry 2 Harps 0, Harps 1 Derry 2.

Recent league form: Derry: LDWWW; Harps: LWDLD.

Leading scorers: Derry: McCaul 2; Harps: Nesovic 4.

Betting: Home: 8/13, draw: 9/4, away: 4/1.

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).

Kikenny City v Cork City

Newly arrived manager Joe McGrath brings in his first signing at Buckley Park this evening with young striker Paul Knight expected to make his debut just 24 hours after joining from Newcastle United. The former FAI coach will have to make do without either his son Derek (back trouble) or striker Sean Murray (shoulder).

Derek Mountfield is also without a couple of first-team regulars, notably Patsy Freyne (back) and Ollie Cahill (broken nose).

Last season: Did not meet.

Recent league form: Kilkenny: DWLDD; Cork: WDDDL.

Leading scorers: Kilkenny: Byrne, Mulcahy, Murray and Kabia 1 each; Cork: Herrick, O'Brien and Flanagan 1 each.

Betting: Home: 7/2, draw: 9/4, away: 4/6.

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).

Longford Town v Galway United

With everybody dropping points so far, these two find themselves in strong contention to go top of the table.

United travel with pretty much a full panel and Don O'Riordan is unlikely to meddle excessively with the line-up that beat Shamrock Rovers.

Longford, on the other hand, have quite a few difficulties with several of Stephen O'Brien's players having come down with the flu. Eric Smith is considered highly doubtful. Wesley Byrne (hamstring) is another facing a late fitness test but brighter news is Stephen Kelly's return from long injury.

Last season: Did not meet.

Recent league form: Longford: LLWDW; Galway: LLWDW.

Leading scorers: Longford: S Byrne and Farrell 2 each; Galway: Lavine 6.

Betting: Home: 4/5, draw: 2/1, away: 100/30.

Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).

Sunday

Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick's Athletic

The hoops will return to Santry with a bit of a heavy heart but assistant manager Mick Cooke insists that it is up to the players to turn the club's continuing adversity to their advantage. "Everybody knows that the pitch is small," he says "but that's something that we have to exploit." They'll have to make it hard for St Patrick's without either Tony O'Dowd (stomach) or Richie Purdy (ankle) but Tony Cousins should be back on the bench.

The visitors are still without Paul Osam (groin) and Packie Lynch (virus) while Shane Harte has gone to Athlone Town.

Last season: St Patrick's 1 Rovers 1, Rovers 2 St Patrick's 1, St Patrick's 0 Rovers 0.

Recent league form: Rovers: DWDDL; St Patrick's: DDLDL.

Leading scorers: Rovers: Grant 2; St Patrick's: Russell 2.

Betting: Home: 4/5, draw: 2/1, away: 100/30.

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

UCD v Shelbourne

The hosts are still a little way off having a full panel with Martin Moran having to cope this week without Aidan Lynch (groin) or Brian Mooney (shoulder) while there is more depressing news about Peter Hanrahan whose career may be over as a result of his achilles tendon problem. Tony McDonnell is back in contention, though.

Dermot Keely has a full-strength panel to choose from and says he will stick with the more open, attacking style that Shelbourne have employed in recent weeks.

Last season: Shelbourne 0 UCD 0, UCD 0 Shelbourne 2, Shelbourne 2 UCD 1.

Recent league form: UCD: DLLWW; Shelbourne: WLWWW.

Leading scorers: UCD: Delaney and Grogan 2 each; Shelbourne: Foran 4.

Betting: Home: 9/4, draw: 2/1, away: 11/10.

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).