St Patrick's Athletic are gearing up to entertain a depleted Derry City side at Richmond Park in the SSE Airtricity League on Tuesday night.
Derry's assistant manager Kevin Deery has confirmed that Eoghan Stokes and Patrick McClean will both miss the game while Ally Gilchrist and Darren Cole are doubtful, but will face late fitness tests.
Both sides come into the meeting on the back of consecutive draws in the Premier Division, two for the Saints and three for Derry, whose most recent point was won away to Sligo on Saturday night.
"We didn’t play well in Sligo and that was the most disappointing aspect of it," commented Deery in the wake of the 0-0 stalemate at the Showgrounds. "We weren’t good enough in possession and didn’t create much, which isn’t like us.
"St Pats will be very tough and we have to be ready. We played really well here on our last visit but this is another day and we need to be at the top of our game again."
There are only four points separating the sides with the Inchicore club in fifth place behind the Candystripes in fourth and Saints boss Harry Kenny admits that it will be a tough ask to build on last Friday's derby clash with Bohemians.
"We had a good draw against Bohs last Friday and now we have this game against Derry following on from it quickly," said Kenny. "Derry were tough opponents recently and we know that we need to be at it to compete with them."
The sides finished 1-1 in their most recent fixture which was at the Brandywell in May while the Saints were beaten 3-1 on their own patch by the same opponents back in April.
"I thought we played well up there and got a good point in Derry thanks to a great goal from Lee Desmond," Kenny added.
"If we can show the same levels of performance from that night, and of what we showed against Bohs, I’d be hopeful we can pick up a result."
In team news, Kenny will be without the services of Dean Clarke and Lee Desmond through injury.
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