New Cork City boss Neale Fenn will be looking to bounce back from his first game defeat to Sligo Rovers as he welcomes Waterford to Turners Cross tonight (7:45 pm).
Conor McCarthy and Mark O’Sullivan scored for the Leesiders in a 2-0 victory when the sides last met a couple of weeks ago at the RSC but the Blues won the previous two meetings.
Waterford drew 1-1 at home against Derry City last Friday while Fenn saw his team beaten 4-2 by the Bit O'Red and he is hoping they can be a bit less porous tonight.
"We will try to be a bit more solid as a unit, but we still want to attack, and we still want to go out and win the game," said Fenn ahead of tonight's game. "We feel we can win it, so that will be how we approach it.
"The games against the teams around you are always big games; you don’t want to lose them, especially at home. Waterford picked up a draw on Friday, and from what I know, they played well and probably deserved a win.
"We want to go out and win the game; we are at home against the team directly below us in the league, so it’s there for us."
In team news, McCarthy returns from suspension but Gearóid Morrissey and Kevin O’Connor are expected to miss out.
It is hoped that Ronan Hurley will be available after missing Friday’s game with a knock, but Cian Bargary and Cian Murphy remain sidelined.
Zack Elbouzedi misses out for Waterford as he trains with the Republic of Ireland U21s ahead of their meeting with Armenia on Friday.
Dean Walsh misses out again while Rory Feely continues his recovery from an injury picked up against Glengad and remains a doubt.
Walter Figueira came off early against Derry and will be assessed before the game.
Speaking to waterfordfc.ie Blues boss Alan Reynolds expressed his disappointment at the loss of a star player for such a big tie.
"We head to Cork without one of our best players in Zack [Elbouzedi] because he’s training with the Irish U21s who don’t play until Friday which is frustrating.
"That’s another challenge we need to work with but the lads know it’s a game to go and win.
"Neale will no doubt have Cork ready, he hasn’t been there long but we need to be wary of what they’ll throw at us."
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