The 'Candy Stripes,' well placed to secure a place in next season's UEFA Cup through the league programme, will be anxious to get this one out of the way as Harps, hovering above the relegation area, will be doing everything in their power to avoid the dreaded drop.

That scenario makes tonight's clash particularly interesting and Brandywell boss, Stephen Kenny, remains adamant that nothing can be taken for granted when his former assistant, Paul Hegarty, leads his 'Finnsiders' onto 'Foyleside' for the final time this season.

"I've started to plan our travel arrangements for the next few weeks and realising the fixtures we face, I've continued saying to myself that we face a particularly frenetic programme," noted Kenny.

"But I think it's a very exciting programme with matches on Fridays and Tuesdays and everyone is going to have to rally around each other in order to make it successful," maintained the Dubliner.

"Obviously, our priority is Friday against Harps, which will be far from easy. We're back at the Brandywell next Tuesday before travelling to Cork next Friday and the Saturday afterwards for our FAI Cup quarter-final at Turner's Cross.

"Then we're due to face St. Pat's in Dublin early the following week, so we've got to carefully plan our preparations. But we're certainly not complaining about fixture pile-up. We're still involved in everything and that's exactly where we want to be."

But the visit of Harps tonight is top of Kenny's "to do list" and despite having defeated his club's near-neighours on three occasions already this season - League and League Cup - the Derry boss has, predictably, opted to err on the side of caution.

"Our focus will be centred on Finn Harps, that's what this weekend is all about. In our two league games this season we've experienced very tough matches and I don't see Friday night's game being any different.
"Finn Harps genuinely have a strong squad and there's no doubt they will come fully prepared for what I expect to be a very difficult match."

The Derry boss remains of the belief the Ballybofey side will beat the drop to the First Division. "I'm of the view that Harps have a great chance of staying up as no team at the bottom of the table has managed to go on any kind of winning run. I believe they will remain in the Premier Division because they have more experience than UCD, Galway or Cobh and I also believe Harps have strength in depth in their squad," he continued.

"But, first and foremost, we've got to concentrate on ourselves and make sure we play at our best. We know we're playing well at the moment and that we can score goals. We've got so much pace in the team which fightens the opposition and that's a great thing but I've no doubt we will get it tough and have to be at our best to win."

On the team front, Kenny's only injury worry centres on Ciaran Martyn, who remains out of action with an ankle injury.
"Outside Ciaran Martyn, everyone else is fit, Peter Hutton is a bit of a concern, but I think he'll be okay," concluded the Dubliner.

Meanwhile, Harps have been licking their wounds having conceded a late, late equaliser against Cobh in Ballybofey last Friday night, a goal which clearly deflated Hegarty and his charges as they moved one point clear of the relegation zone.

But given the high profile of tonight's game, motivation will not be an issue for the visitors. "Listen, it's Derry City and it's a big game and everyone should be looking forward to it," said Hegarty last night.
"Last weekend was a massive disappointment, there's no doubt about that, but we're looking at Derry now and that's always a big challenge for us."

Stephen Parkhouse is now available following suspension and that would imply that Hegarty will deploy a 4-4-2 formation with the Derry man and Conor Gethins renewing acquaintances in the front line.

Another ex-City player, Davy Byrne, netted his first Harps' goal last week, and is also expected to start but he faces a late fitness test following a clash of heads which brought on concussion. Should the Dubliner not make it, Shaun McGowan will benefit having recovered from a groin injury.

Those Donegal fans who travelled to the Lone Moor Road venue this season have witnessed arguably the best and worst of Harps on the road this season.

Ciaran Martyn's late winner in the second outing of the campaign was a bitter pill for Hegarty to swallow, however, May's Bank Holiday Monday dragged the jury back out and the 3-0 defeat by an understrength Derry in the League Cup compounded Harps' woes.

Looking forward to the game, Hegarty went on: "I've an idea about how I'll play it on Friday but to tell you the truth there will be no great surprises. We've had a go at Derry when we played them this season and have been unlucky in our couple of league games with them. Maybe on Friday we'll get a bit of luck that we don't seem to get too often."