Cork City and St Patrick's Athletic will battle it out for a place in the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup quarter-finals when they meet at Turner’s Cross tonight in a game that's live on RTÉ2 from 7pm and which John Caulfield calls the "biggest of the season".
It's the second time in a week that City will play in front of the RTÉ cameras, having suffered a 3-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers in a league game on Monday.
This game offers Cork the chance to bounce back from that defeat immediately and manager John Caulfield is in no doubt as to the importance of the tie.
"It’s a huge game because it’s the FAI Cup. St Pat’s are obviously the holders, having won it last year for the first time in over 50 years," he said.
"From our point of view, it’s the biggest game of the season. The cup gives you a chance to get to the Aviva, even though that is still a few rounds away.
"It’s a different competition and it is a 50-50 game. I am appealing to our fans to come out in big numbers and get behind us, because it will be a tight game and our home support can help us get over the line.
"There’s a beauty about the cup in the sense that, if you win five games, you win the cup. It’s a different atmosphere and a different feeling to the league. All of the players are looking forward to it, because they know it is an opportunity for them to bounce back."
Gavan Holohan remains sidelined with an ankle injury, while captain John Dunleavy will be out for the foreseeable future with a fractured cheekbone.
Danny Morrissey is also set for a number of weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Summer signings Steven Beattie and Stephen Folan will both miss out, as they are cup-tied.
Caulfield also has doubts over several players. Mark O’Sullivan, John Kavanagh, Darren Dennehy, Alan Bennett and Kevin O’Connor are all carrying knocks.
With their FAI Cup hoodoo finally broken, St Pat's are in no mood to hand back the trophy and having already booked their place in the EA Sports Cup final, have a cup double firmly in their sights.
The Saints overcame Cork on their way to that League Cup final but manager Liam Buckley is expecting an entertaining encounter.
"Friday's game should be a really good game for the neutrals as with it being a cup game, both teams will go for the win," he said.
"Cup football always creates that drama and entertainment, so it should be a great game for those in Turner’s Cross and watching on the television."
In team news, Buckley confirmed that Christy Fagan remains out with a knee injury, while both Kenny Browne and Ian Morris face late fitness tests.
Killian Brennan returns from suspension as the manager confirmed all other members of his squad are available for selection.
Elsewhere, there's several other all-Premier Division ties as Galway United host league leaders Dundalk, Derry City entertain Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers make the short trip to Dalymount Park to take on Bohemians.
There's plenty of non-league involvement still at this stage and Tolka Rovers will be eyeing a victory over Killester, while Sheriff YC host Athlone Town.
