Derry City will be bidding to close the gap on League of Ireland Premier Division leaders Shelbourne when they welcome Sligo Rovers to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday night.
The home side are currently second in the table, four points behind first-placed Shelbourne, while Sligo occupy eighth, boasting 18 points from their 16 league matches this season.
Match preview
Derry boast a record of eight wins, six draws and four defeats from their 18 league matches this season, which has left them in second position in the table on 30 points.
Ruaidhri Higgins's side are four points behind the leaders Shelbourne, who are also in action on Friday night away to third-placed Shamrock Rovers, so it could be a big gameweek at the top of the division.
Derry suffered a 1-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers last time out, but they had won four and drawn two of their six matches ahead of that contest, so the team are in good form despite the setback.
The Red and Whites have won the League of Ireland Premier Division on two previous occasions, with their last success coming in 1997, while they finished second in the table last season behind Shamrock Rovers.
Derry have the best home form in the division this season, picking up 19 points from their nine matches, and they are welcoming a Sligo Rovers outfit that have eight points from their seven games on their travels.
Sligo Rovers will enter this match off the back of a 3-0 home loss to Bohemians, with the result leaving them in eighth spot in the table, boasting 18 points from their 16 league games.
John Russell's side have won four, drawn six and lost six of their 16 league fixtures this term, and they are only three points ahead of ninth-placed Drogheda United.
Rovers finished eighth in the League of Ireland Premier Division last season, but they have won the top league on three previous occasions, with their last success coming in 2012.
Sligo Rovers have only actually lost one of their last six league matches against Derry, with the two teams playing out a goalless draw in their last meeting in February.
Russell's team have only been victorious in one of their last nine league fixtures, though, which proved to be a 1-0 success over St Patrick's Athletic on May 6.
Team News
Derry will be without the services of Colm Whelan on Friday due to a knee injury, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape ahead of the contest with Sligo Rovers.
Danny Mullen has scored five times in 18 appearances this season, and the 29-year-old is again set to operate in the final third of the field for the home side.
There is also set to be another start for William Patching, who has five goals this term, while Paul McMullan should also retain his spot in the starting side on Friday night.
As for Sligo Rovers, William Fitzgerald, Simon Power, Nando Pijnaker and John Mahon will miss the contest due to fitness issues.
Ellis Chapman has four goals to his name this season, and the 23-year-old will again feature in the final third of the field.
There should also be another role at centre-forward for Rein Smit despite the fact that the Dutchman is yet to find the back of the net in 10 appearances this season.
Derry City possible starting lineup:
Maher; Boyce, McEleney, McJannet, Coll; O'Reilly, Dummigan; McMullan, Patching, Duffy; Mullen
Sligo Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGinty; Wilson, Wiggett, Denham, Hutchinson; Hartmann, Morahan, Malley, Radosavljevic; Chapman; Smit
We say: Derry City 2-0 Sligo Rovers
Derry have been impressive at home this season, picking up 19 points from nine matches, scoring 17 times in the process, and we are expecting the hosts to collect all three points in routine fashion on Friday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
