Cork City v Sligo Rovers

Back in March, Turners Cross was a stadium full of optimism. As the final home game of the season approaches, it will be sighs of relief that will ring around the stadium just after half past nine tomorrow night.

Things have taken a bit of an up-turn on Leeside in recent weeks though as the clubs saviour and emergence from an awful examinership period was followed up by a Setanta Cup win last weekend. However, the doom and gloom is still in the air around the 'Cross. With all but 5 players out of contract in a forthnight, who knows what strength Cork will be when the rollercoaster takes off again next Spring.

This could be the last time players such as Dan Murray play on the Turners Cross pitch. With talks of wage cuts next season, players will certainly leave if they're offered a better wage packet.

It will be a real shame to see the departure of the International midfield pairing of Colin Healy and Joe Gamble from Cork but nobody in their right mind would disagree with letting players move on for more money.

Healy will still miss out as he continues his recovery from a nasty shoulder injury he picked up in an away game to Cobh back in September. While, Gamble is suspended for the last two games of the season.

Speaking to CorkCityFc.ie prior to the game, Alan Matthews had this to say: “Like ourselves, Sligo have endured a tough time of things financially, but they have come through them and they are towards the top end of the table on merit. They come into this game on the back of an excellent run of form and great credit is due to Paul Cook and his players for that.”

The away side, who are a point behind Cork in the chase for European football will need to win this and their final game to finish above the Rebel Army, although Cork might not even make it that far if they have licensing problems after their well-documented financial problems. They are playing well at the moment and will be confident in their own abilities to take the spoils.

Paul Cook has doubts over Romould Boco and Matthew Judge as they've both been hit by flu while Danny Venture and Brian Cash will also have a late fitness tests after both picked up hamstring injuries in their 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers last week.

Extratime.ie Prediction: Cork City will still be buzzing after their win in the Setanta Cup 6 days ago and home advantage will as always play a big part. Sligo have been on a good run and are unbeaten in 6. It will be a tight one but Cork will probably edge it. The smart money would be on 1-0.