LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION:THOROUGHLY PROFESSIONAL as ever, Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon will leave the speculation on the possibility of their winning the title tonight to others.
Defeating Bray at Dalymount Park for a remarkable 11th league win in succession, coupled to a loss for St Patrick's Athletic at Finn Harps, would give Bohemians their 10th league title this evening - with five games to spare.
Fenlon would simply be happy with the win and just as content with having to wait another week for what will be his fourth championship in six seasons since going into management. "Winning the league is not something that is in my head at the moment," said Fenlon. "I just want to win this game and what happens elsewhere is not my concern."
Bohemians are back to full strength with left back Conor Powell free of suspension, winger John Paul Kelly back from illness and midfielder Glenn Cronin and defender Ken Oman fit again.
Bray will be without full back Derek Pender due to suspension.
Whatever about preventing Bohemians from winning the league tonight, St Patrick's need to win to maintain their aspiration of securing second place.
Des Byrne, with a hamstring problem, and groin injury victims Stephen Paisley and Gary O'Neill remain injury doubts.
How Harps staff and players react to their 50 per cent pay cut is key to their continuing their pull away from the relegation zone, currently cushioned at seven points.
"There are some strange results at the end of every season but I think that 30 points should be enough, so we need another two wins," said Harps manager Paul Hegarty, who welcomes defender Jonathan Minnock back from suspension.
Central defender Stuart Malcolm (groin) and midfielder Davy Byrne (thigh) remain doubtful having missed the last three games.
A big week over and another to come sees Derry City manager Stephen Kenny freshen up his team at home to Sligo Rovers, with Aaron Callaghan likely to come in at left back and Thomas Stewart up front.
Sligo, buoyed by their biggest (if flattering) win of the season over Cobh, remain without injured pair Chris Butler and Steve Feeney, while reserve goalkeeper Pat Jennings and striker David McDaid are ineligible as they're on loan from Derry.
With morale boosted by their home draw with Derry in the semi-final of the FAI Cup, Galway United boss Jeff Kenna has rallied his players into providing a final push in their bid to avoid relegation, as they prepare for the visit of Cork City to Terryland Park. Bottom of the table, eight points from safety with seven games to play, it's a tall order.
"A lot of soul searching has taken place over the last month and the result of this has been very positive with improved performances and points on the board," said Kenna who has a full squad at his disposal tonight.
Apart from the Setanta Sports Cup, defeat at Derry in their FAI Cup semi-final replay midweek has surely spelt the end to Cork's season as even a strong finish in the league is unlikely to get them into Europe.
Midfielder Colin Healy remains out with a shoulder injury along with Cillian Lordan (knee), while fellow defender Seán Kelly is a doubt due to a hamstring strain. Alan O'Connor, Darragh Ryan and Denis Behan, who picked up knocks in Derry, expect to be passed fit.
A fully fit UCD hope to find their goal touch to end five straight defeats with a win over the outgoing champions Drogheda United at the UCD Bowl.
"We'll have to win at least three of our remaining games," said UCD manager Pete Mahon. "We've only won three all season so unless there's a major turnaround it's going to be very tough for us."
Having taken just two points from games against the bottom two, Drogheda's European aspirations look less promising that a week ago. "I was very disappointed, we should have come away with six points from those two games," said manager Paul Doolin.
Goalkeeper Dan Connor and strikers Declan O'Brien, Shane Barrett and Guy Bates remain out injured.
