That said, Delaney could figure if regular full-back, Stephen Gray, fails to get through a late fitness test on a thigh strain with Mark McChrystal expected to retain his place in the 'Candy Stripes' defence.

Commenting on McChrystal's stylish performance against Pat Fenlon's men, Kenny praised the contribution of the 24-year-old centre-half who had struggled with injury at the start of the current campaign.

"I was pleased with Mark's performance against Bohemians last week. He played very well and he was the only change from the team which defeated Bray 4-0.

"Clive returns from suspension and will rejoin the squad, but we've a doubt over the fitness of Stephen Gray who sustained a thigh strain and hasn't trained this week.

"He will face a fitness test before the game while Owen Morrison is also doubtful. He came on for 20 minutes last week but picked up a heel injury which kept him out of the Dungannon game in midweek. He hasn't trained either and is also a doubt for the Galway match," confirmed Kenny.

With everyone else available, Kenny is not expected to make any drastic changes and, indeed, retain his new 4-2-1-3 formation which has reaped handsome dividends if recent displays are anything to go by.

When quizzed on his reasons for changing from his more accustomed 4-4-2 formation, Kenny felt his players were now 'playing to their strengths' in what is considered a particularly offensive formation.

"I think we are now playing to our strengths. We had operated a 4-4-2 system earlier in the season but after two scoreless draws against Galway and Sligo at the Brandywell and a 1-0 victory over Cobh without being fluent, we appeared to be a team that the opposition could stop playing.

"Since the change, we've beaten Bohs 4-1 in the League Cup, Bray 4-0 in the league and while we were disappointing with our finishing last week against Bohemians in the league, we did manage to create plenty of scoring chances.

"That's the most important thing, our finishing wasn't what it should have been and the Bohs keeper had a very good game, but we did play well."

He considered tonight's match against Galway as another major test but agreed that a victory would present the 'Candy Stripes' with a great boost as they prepared to host Shamrock Rovers next Friday night.

"Many people had Galway relegated before last week, but they drew with Sligo Rovers and then defeated Bray thanks to a late goal at the Carlisle Grounds last week.

Those results have seen them move off the bottom of the table and they are now three points from safety. They will be confident after an away win and we must be very careful," continued the Derry boss.

"We're playing well at the moment, we're passing the ball to good effect and we're in good form going to Galway. Any win away from home is a great win as nothing is easy in this league, particularly against teams battling against relegation," he noted.

"I think we must believe in ourselves and be confident when in possession. We must continue doing what we've been doing over the past couple of weeks.

"I expect us to maintain the same pace we've been showing when in attack and with players such as Mark Farren, Thomas Stewart, Gareth McGlynn and Niall McGinn giving lively performances, I've no doubt we will cause defences no shortage of problems."

On the possible make-up of the team, Kenny again played his cards close to his chest but he did admit that he would be reluctant to make major changes.

"After the Bray game, the team basically picked itself for the visit of Bohemians, but with Clive (Delaney) suspended, Mark (McChrystal), pictured right, stepped into the breach and he didn't put a foot wrong. Taking all that into consideration, I would be reluctant to make any changes, but we'll have to wait and see."

With a total of 14 matches remaining, Kenny refused to give up the fight for a league title challenge despite trailing the leaders by seven points.

"I think the next five matches will tell. It's very difficult to plan as a team and you can only focus on one match at a team, but it we could record another win away from home, just before Rovers visit the Brandywell, I think it would prove a major boost.

"At this stage we remain in all the major domestic competitions, therefore, we have an awful lot to play for and with our injured players returning to full fitness, we have every chance," concluded the Dubliner.

Meanwhile, Galway boss and former international defender, Jeff Kenna, made his debut for the 'Tribesmen' in last weekend's victory over Bray Wanderers, as did assistant manager, Ian Foster, who entered the fray as a substitute striker.

And while both will be considered for tonight's game, Galway must play without the services of midfielder, Alan Keane, who has sustained a knee injury.

Commenting on the game, Kenna said: "We've taken four points from our last two games, points which have lifted us off the bottom of the table and we must continue that determination if we are to climb out of the relegation area.

"I will expect the same commitment against Derry City on Friday night at Terryland," he added.