The manager considered his team “played well in patches” against Bray Wanderers in the Leinster Senior Cup. But he has been stressing the need for his players to take scoring chances.

“We should be more ruthless in front of goal. We created chances, particularly in the second half, and if we had taken those chances, we could have won by two or three.

“It will take composure from players in front of goal, and we need them to have that belief and confidence in themselves. But we have lads who are well used to scoring and we will need others to chip in.”

Long made up for a missed friendly last weekend, cancelled because of the weather, with a XI v XI match behind closed doors on Monday. “That was a small disruption to the programme, but we’re ready now.”

Bohemians will be missing three players through suspensions carried over from last season – Stephen Best, James O’Brien, and recently re-signed Conor Murphy, who comes back to Bohemians after a spell at Shelbourne.

Also out is long-term injured Dan Byrne, and Dave Mulcahy (calf injury), who is expected to return to training next week.

Team captain Derek Pender (knee) and Dean Kelly, who took a knock in a pre-season game, will face late fitness tests. Anto Murphy, who missed the Bray game through groin injury, is fit for selection.

“I’m fully focused on the job here, and I know it’s a big job,” Long said, adding that he is fully aware of the Bohemian fans’ expectations.

“We want to generate excitement among the supporters, so that they’re proud of their team, and want to come and watch them.”

The manager expects to see continuing improvement in his team’s pre-season performances.

“It’s important that we build momentum in the pre-season. Performances will improve as we get to know each other, and to gel as a group.

“We’re coming to the business end of the pre-season and we’ll be sharpening our focus on the start of the league.

“It’s important that we put our best foot forward against Bray. We want to do well in the competition, but we have some players with niggles and we obviously don’t want to put them at risk, with the league in mind.”

Long says he and his backroom team are getting close to identifying their preferred starting line-up. “We’ve worked on different combinations. But there’s still room for players to force their way into the team.”

Bohemians have three players out – new signing Dean Kelly has taken a knock in training, Anto Murphy has a groin strain and Dan Byrne is still recovering from long-term injury, but “making good progress” and aiming to return soon to contact training.

“We want to thank the fans as well, particularly those who have travelled away with us,” he said. “We’ll be happy to sit down with them after the game and celebrate a long, tough season but also an enjoyable one.”

For Friday Dave Mulcahy and Stephen Best are automatically suspended as a result of red cards against Cork. Anto Murphy is also suspended for accumulated yellow cards, having very recently come back from injury.

Derek Pender and Dan Byrne are out injured for the longer-term. But Aidan Price and Paddy Kavanagh return from suspension and Roberto Lopes is available this week.

Heary had to shuffle his defence last week and will have to do so again. “Last week we had Steven Beattie at right-back and Mullers [Dave Mulcahy] at centre-half and we can mix it around again. It’s important that we have players who can play in a couple of positions,” he said.

Heary aimed this season to produce a side that can compete with the best and his team continued to do that last weekend in Cork, going down to the title contenders by a single goal from a long-range free.

“We were unfortunate to go down to a bit of a fluke of a goal, but we kept battling away and gave them a game. It’s important that we keep that mentality in the club,” said Heary.

Bohemians have been a bogey side for Cork this season. The teams drew in the league and in the cup at Turner’s Cross and Bohs won both of their encounters at Dalymount Park. Only Dundalk have a better record against Cork City this season.

Heary has a weakened squad for Friday, missing Aidan Price and Paddy Kavanagh through suspension, and Derek Pender (calf) and Dan Byrne (cruciate) through injury. Roberto Lopes has exams on Friday evening, meaning four potential defenders are missing.

“We’re down a few bodies but we’ll put out a team that can compete on the night,” said Heary. “Last week, with Pender and Mulcahy out, we took the game to Sligo and could have won.

“We gave it everything and it showed you how well we can compete against the teams with a full-time set-up.

“We like to have a go at teams and we have younger players who should have no fear playing Cork in front of a packed house. They should enjoy the occasion.”

As Paddy Kavanagh is ruled out, Kevin Devaney returns from a toe injury to resume his raiding runs down the wing. Dave Mulcahy comes back from suspension and will be in the reckoning for a role in midfield or defence.

Steven Beattie, last week’s man of the match as winger, might revert to the back line where he has provided cover on right and left when circumstances demanded it. Playing Keith Buckley at right-back, as he did against Cork City in the cup, is another option.

But this could also be the opportunity for under-19 defender Stephen Best to step up. Signed earlier this year from Crumlin United, he returned recently from ankle injury and played 90 minutes in last week’s 2-1 victory over Longford Town in the under-19 league.

“I’d have no problems throwing him in and seeing how he copes. He would have had more games except for his injury. It will be a tough game for him to be called in, in front of 5,000 people, but he’ll be competing for selection in Friday,” said Heary.

“Any player should want to finish as well as possible. There are players too who are playing for a place in the squad next season.”

This game comes just over a month after a rescheduled league game at the Showgrounds was decided by the odd goal in five.

Sligo won 3-2 but also ended ahead on yellow cards, 4-1, all of them given out in the tense last 20 minutes of the encounter.

“They’re a good side, but we don’t want them to let them get away from us,” said Heary.

Bohemians have had two fewer defeats in the league than Sligo Rovers and are unbeaten at home since Dundalk’s 2-0 victory at Dalymount at the end of May.

“We have done quite well at home despite the problems early on. We have lost only four games at home,” said Heary.

“The one thing we had to do, was to make sure we were hard to beat, and we weren’t that last week against Pat’s.”

The manager gave his players some time off since losing 3-1 to St Patrick’s Athletic 11 days ago. He also introduced a few novelties into training to help refresh a team that was showing signs of fatigue.

“You can allow for a few players who were tired, but there were some performances that were not up to the standard we have been asking for. We did not impose ourselves on the game,” said Heary of the Richmond Park game.

Captain on the night Derek Pender came off with a calf injury late in that game and he may miss the rest of the season.

“He’s been excellent all season. He’s had to fill in at left-back and he’s done it without moaning,” said Heary.

“He’s gone back to the right side and he’s scored two great goals. He’s been a leader on and off the park.

“He keeps telling me he’ll make it back for the last game. He’s that committed.”

Kevin Devaney (toe injury) is out for Friday but has returned to training and is expected to be available for next week’s match away to Cork City. Dan Byrne (cruciate) is sidelined for the longer-term.

Dave Mulcahy, who did not make it to the St Pat’s game in time due to a major traffic disruption on the M50, is suspended for Friday. But Anto Murphy, who returned from injury to come off the bench against St Pat’s and scored a late consolation goal, has had more time to regain fitness.

Jason Byrne has also recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of the squad against St Patrick’s Athletic.

Steven Beattie is likely to feature again in the back line. But Heary may also take the opportunity to look more closely at some of the players who are in the frame for next season’s squad, among them defender Stephen Best.