Sligo Rovers meet Finn Harps on Friday night as the Bit O’ Red return to action in The Showgrounds.
Rovers face Harps on the back of Monday’s 0-0 draw with Cork City. The previous league meeting of the teams was a 2-1 win for Liam Buckley’s men in Ballybofey thanks to goals from Kris Twardek and Romeo Parkes.
Ahead of the game, Romeo Parkes and Dante Leverock have trained following injuries picked up at the weekend but will be tested pre-game. Daryl Fordyce has recovered from illness. Kyle Callan-McFadden has a hand injury and is also doubtful.
Ronan Murray returns following a four-game ban.
Buckley said: “We were happier with the performance on Monday. We put a few things right in terms of not giving away poor goals. I’d like to us to be better in other parts of the game but there is a tremendous honesty in the group and there is more to come in terms of what they can produce. We have had to cope with a lot of absentees and to be honest I had used every available fully fit outfield player by the time that game was finished. We had some decent moments and could have got the goal but the point was a fair result overall.
“We should have some players back on Friday although there are a couple of doubts that will need to be checked. Ronan Murray returns which is a boost for us. It says something about the fixtures at the moment that you can have a four-game ban and return in two weeks. That was one positive that he didn’t have to sit on the sidelines for a long period. It’s behind us now and Ronan can make a big impact for us.
“The game in Ballybofey could have gone a different way, Harps pushed us right to the wire like they have done against Derry and Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers up there. There was only a goal in all of those four games and we’re under no illusions, especially after the defeat in the League Cup. I risk repeating myself in saying that in each game you play in this league you have to be up for it because if you are not you will come unstuck. We’d love to get three points and get up that table. It’s a derby game, it’ll be extremely hard-fought and we’ll be giving it our all to get the win.”