Graham Cummins

In a normal FAI cup tie between a Premier Division side and an amateur club, the expectation would be for the top-flight team to rest key players, rotate the squad, and cruise through without much fuss. But for Cork City, this meeting with Leinster Senior League side Leicester Celtic is anything but routine. The reality is simple: City need to go full strength.

Cork City manager Ger Nash cut a dejected figure after Friday night’s defeat to Waterford at the RSC, a result that further deepens the club’s relegation worries and continues their winless away run this season. City have now lost six successive games on the road and remain rooted to the bottom of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division, five points adrift with 12 games to play.

Cork City’s struggles on the road continued on Friday night as they slumped to a sixth successive away defeat, against Waterford at the RSC. The result means City remain winless away from Turner’s Cross this season and stay rooted to the bottom of the table, five points adrift of Sligo Rovers, who host Derry City on Saturday night.