Paul Hegarty's team might still be licking their wounds from last Friday's 2-2 home draw against Cobh Ramblers when they squandered a two-goal advantage, but the imminent fixture against their near neighbours means that there should be little need for highly-strung motivational tactics.
"Listen, it's Derry City and it's a big game and everyone should be looking forward to it," began Hegarty. "Last weekend was a massive disappointment, there's no doubt about that, but we're looking at Derry now. Probably the thing about last week that annoyed us was more than anything was the fact that we scored two very good goals to go 2-0 up, but then conceded two very poor ones."
Stephen Parkhouse's suspension ruled him out of that game, but he is now available again to start and is almost certain to do so. That would imply that Hegarty will employ a 4-4-2 formation with Parkhouse and Conor Gethins renewing acquaintances once more.
Davy Byrne had a decent game last week, unspectacular but effective, capping it with his first goal for the club, but a late clash of heads forced him off. His concussion and slight bruising means that he is a doubt, with Shaun McGowan the person who will benefit after he was suffering a groin injury himself, but is ready to go now.
Lone Moore Road frequenters have enough to digest with their own team, but they have witnessed arguably the best and worst of Harps on the road this season. Ciaran Martyn's late winner as early as the second outing of the campaign was a bitter pill for apprentice Hegarty, who had watched Harps' players match those of his former master.
However, May's Bank Holiday Monday dragged the jury back out and the 3-0 scoreline Harps lost by was not an injustice on them, but on an understrength Derry outfit that tore their opponents at the seams from the first whistle until the last in the League Cup.
The third fixture, second in the league, mirrored the first. Harps were compact and well involved in the game at Finn Park, but were beaten by two exceptionally well-taken goals from Owen Morrisson in the final quarter. When near their best, Harps have proven that they are unafraid of Derry, even if the results have, this year or any,
seldom gone their way.
"I've an idea about how I'll play it on Friday but to tell you the truth there will be no great surprises in it," added Hegarty. "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."
Derry have been in fine form of late, winning 10 points from their last five outings, the loss being against Shamrock Rovers when they were more than a match for the Dubliners everywhere apart from on the scoreboard. Niall McGinn has stepped up to the mantle since Paddy McCourt moved on to Celtic and has been attracting the interests of Championship outfit Ipswich Town.
Captain Peter Hutton is due to go under the knife for a double-hernia operation, although just when he does remains to be seen. He must take the operation in the next fortnight or so, although with the Setanta Sports Cup resuming, Derry's League Cup final coming up against Wexford Youths and, of course, the derby, Hutton may opt to play on through the pain barrier.
"We'll wait and see how Peter copes with the situation," said manager Stephen Kenny. "He seemed to be okay against UCD and got through the game okay. The player is happy to take it match by match so we'll wait and see how he gets on before making a final decision."