National League Previews

Cork City v Longford Town (2.0)

James Mulligan (ankle injury) is the only doubt for the home side who have started strongly over the past few weeks even if scoring goals remains a problem.

"We haven't been playing particularly well," says manager Derek Mountfield, "but we've been getting results which is important and with Bohemians losing to Derry the opportunity is there to go top."

His opposite number, Stephen Kenny, will have to cope without Paul Perth, Niall Byrne or Stephen Kelly once again while Paul McNally (hamstring) and Keith O'Connor (hip) are slight doubts for the trip to Turner's Cross.

Having scored in his first start of the season last week, Shay Zellor is likely to retain his place but Enda Kenny and Vinny Perth pressed their claims for inclusion in the 11 last week by performing strongly after coming on and so Kenny admits to having some thinking to do before naming his side.

Last season: Did not meet.

League form: Cork City: WWDD; Longford: WLLW.

Leading scorers: Cork City: Herrick, O'Brien and Flanagan, 1 each; Longford: O'Connor, Notaro, Holt, Smith and Zellor, 1 each.

Betting: Home: 2/5, draw: 5/2, away: 13/2. Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).

Bray v Shamrock Rovers (2.30)

Two wins and a draw made for a fine start for Pat Devlin's side but the Bray Wanderers boss will know only too well that they have to start getting goals if they are to avoid sliding down into a season-long scrap at the wrong end of the table.

Rovers will provide another stern test for them. Jody Lynch and Stephen Fox both look certain to miss out again through injury while Pat O'Brien and Eddie Gormley both picked up groin strains last week and face fitness tests. Rovers boss Damien Richardson hopes to have Billy Woods (hamstring) and Pascal Vaudequin (thigh strain) available again and if both are fit, then Woods may go straight back into the side while the Frenchman, having been laid up since the first game of the season, will probably have to settle for a place on the bench to start with.

Another slight concern is Jason Colwell who took a knock to the shin last week but should be okay while Tony Cousins continues to edge his way towards full fitness and is expected to play one half of today's under-21 game against Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

Last season: Did not meet.

League form: Bray: WWDL; Rovers: DDWD.

Leading scorers: Bray: Byrne and Tresson, 1 each; Rovers: Francis, Palmer, Grant and Purdy, 1 each.

Betting: Home: 5/4, draw: 2/1, away: 7/4. Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).

UCD v Finn Harps (3.15)

Neither side has exactly settled into the new campaign yet with the students performing poorly over the past three weeks and their visitors entirely unpredictable from one week to the next.

With James Mulligan gone to Cork, Gavin Dykes is giving a trial to Kosovan striker Kemajl Avdiu and the hope will be that he can be more productive here alongside Alex Nesovic than the one goal he managed in eight starts and 20 appearances from the bench for Bury last season.

Otherwise, Harps are without Fergal Harkin who is in America on business while Tom Mohan is back in contention after recovering from a back injury.

Martin Moran must wait to check on the fitness of Mick O'Byrne (hamstring) and goalkeeper Barry Ryan (back). If the former fails to make it, Aidan Lynch is likely to start while the absence of the latter would mean a chance for former Kilkenny City reserve goalkeeper John Browne.

Last season: UCD 1 Harps 0, Harps 0 UCD 0, UCD 1 Harps 1.

League form: UCD: WDLL; Harps: LLWD.

Leading scorers: UCD: O'Byrne and Delaney, 1 each; Harps: Nesovic 3.

Betting: Home: 8/11, draw: 11/5, away: 100/30.

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power