Bohemians have been hit with a double injury blow ahead of tomorrow night's SSE Airtricity League trip to Inchicore to face St Patrick's Athletic.
Midfield duo Conor Levingston (foot)[pictured above] and Danny Grant (knee) have been ruled out through injury and join centre-back Rob Cornwall (Achilles) on the treatment table.
Keith Ward is a doubt with a foot problem, although the midfielder did play for 31 minutes after being sprung from the bench in last Friday's Premier Division defeat to Dundalk.
Grant was taken off midway through the second-half of that game at Dalymount Park but Levingston played the full 90 minutes.
Bohemians manager Keith Long joined Off The Ball's Saturday panel after the match against the league champions and while he wasn't happy with the performance, he believes that it was a good learning curve for his youthful squad.
"We came up a little short against a really good and talented Dundalk side that have been at the higher end of the table, winning leagues for the last five or six seasons," Long told Off The Ball's Eoin Sheahan.
"So, it [was] a great experience for our younger players. Disappointed with how we performed but ultimately, so far this season, we've been pretty good."
The Gypsies will be hoping to avoid a third defeat on the bounce but whatever happens in Friday night's games, they will remain in third place as Derry City are four points behind them in fourth.
The Saints drew away to Derry last week and are in fifth place, eight points behind their Dublin rivals, and will be seeking revenge for their 1-0 defeat at Dalymount Park earlier in the season.
They welcome back Kevin Toner from suspension but manager Harry Kenny is without the services of Dean Clarke who has returned to light training as he builds up his fitness.
Ciaran Kelly was speaking to stpatsfc.com ahead of the big derby clash and it is certainly one that the 20-year-old Saints defender is relishing.
“These games are always a battle," said Kelly.
"Sometimes there is not much football played, but when it is time, you have put the foot on the ball and play but we'll be ready to fight for it as well.
"The atmosphere and bigger crowd brings the best out of you, and we all just want to do our best and get the three points for the supporters.”
