Premier and First Division champions meet in Turner's Cross
Cork City will look to pick up their first points of the new campaign before an expected bumper crowd at Turner’s Cross tonight when the Premier Division champions Shamrock Rovers visit the 2011 First Division title winners.
Rovers have started with victories over Drogheda United and Monaghan United but will anticipate a Leeside backlash after the Rebel Army were beaten by both UCD and Drogheda in their opening fixtures.
Shane Duggan is out through suspension while Colin Healy will miss out again with a knee injury for the Leesiders.
Stephen Mulcahy, Kevin Murray and Neal Horgan all remain sidelined with knee injuries.
Rovers pair Ciaran Kilduff (broken metatarsal) and Conor Winn (back) remain absent through injury.
Conor McCormack has resumed training after his ankle ligament injury, but is not expected to feature. Gary McCabe is a doubt with a thigh problem.
City manager Tommy Dunne said: "If we play to our potential, then we will give ourselves an opportunity of getting a result. We need to show a bit more urgency and compete for possession, which will allow us to get on the ball and play."
Hoops boss Stephen Kenny is glad the Leesiders are in the top division despite the challenge they represent.
He said: "Cork are a major addition to the Premier Division this year and Turner’s Cross is a great venue when full.
"I think it’s right that clubs like Cork are in the Premier, the league needs a city like Cork represented."
