Both players sat out last week’s 1-0 defeat at home to St. Pat's in Ballybofey. Parkhouse was forced to miss the game with a hamstring injury picked up at training last week, while Holmes was suffering from an ankle injury.

However, Hegarty is keeping his fingers crossed that both will be available for the trip to Leeside. "We are going to give the two boys every chance and we will not make a final call on it until later in the week." Hegarty said.

"They are both very important to our set up and we are going to leave it as late as possible before we make the final call. At this stage I am very hopeful."

With Jonathan Minnock out of the frame with a groin injury aggravated in last Friday night's game, Hegarty will be very anxious to have Holmes back who could slot into the defence as a replacement for Minnock.

Aaron Labonte and Gary Beckett are also struggling with minor knocks but are expected to make it. Beckett was substituted with just under half an hour to go last Friday night with a tightening of a hamstring.

Harps prospects for survival suffered a setback last week with all three sides below them winning. The gap between UCD and Cobh Ramblers has narrowed to four points and the pressure is still on Harps and it looks like it is going to be a dog fight to the finish in the remaining five games.

Fate in own hands

"Nothing has changed really. Okay UCD, Cobh and Galway have narrowed the gap but I have always felt it is going to go down to the last game. Our destiny is in our own hands and all we can do is to go out and play our own game and hopefully get the results, starting this weekend.

"We are going to Cork hoping to get something out of the game though we are only too well aware that they don't lose too often in Turner's Cross, but we are going down to win and take it from there," insisted Hegarty.

Harps have four games left after tonight's game - home to Sligo Rovers, away to Drogheda United, away to Galway United and the final game of the season at home to Shamrock Rovers.

Cork City must field without their influential striker, Denis Behan and full-back, Danny Murphy, both players forced to sit out one match suspensions.