Athlone Town v Dundalk, 7.45pm
Athlone Town host Dundalk in one of the most important SSE Airtricity League matches of the season so far.
The Lilywhites remain strong favourites to claim the league title but they have been pressed hard by Cork City and are ahead on goal difference, albeit with a game in hand this coming Monday against Shamrock Rovers.
A six-game unbeaten run for Athlone was ended by Limerick last week but they still remain just one point behind UCD in the quest to avoid automatic relegation from the top flight.
The Louth side return to action after a two-week break and with just four games to go they are in touching distance of the crown.
Manager Stephen Kenny has to plan without the services of striker David McMillan, who has been ruled out for the season after surgery on an ankle ligament injury he picked up away to UCD two weeks ago, while Simon Kelly is doubtful with a persistent calf problem.
However, Dundalk have been handed a real boost as club captain Stephen O’Donnell returns to contention for a place after making a full recovery from the serious knee injury he suffered back in April.
The leaders are talking nothing for granted at Athlone Town Stadium and Dundalk star Richie Towell said: "We're fully focussed on winning the next three games. We know we are going to get a tough game there.
"It's all about getting the wins to get the title now starting with Athlone this week and we’re going there in good form. We got a really tough game down there earlier in the season and we're going to get another one, but we're ready."
Athlone boss Keith Long will be without the suspended Sean Brennan.
Stephen Quigley, John Mulroy and Sam O’Connor will miss out because of injury.
Aidan Collins, Barry Clancy and Graham Rusk all took their place on the bench last weekend and could have more prominent roles on Friday.
Kevin Knight also returns after suspension.
Bohemian FC v Sligo Rovers, 7.45pm
Bohemians host Sligo Rovers at Dalymount on Friday with both sides being in the unusual position of having little to play for as the season draws to a close.
With both teams mathematically unable to qualify for Europe next season and well out of any kind of relegation worry, this could have a real end-of-season feel to it, but Bohemians manager Owen Heary insists his side are desperate to finish as high up the table as possible.
“A win against Sligo would put us just three points behind them and we might move ahead of Derry,” said Heary.
“We could be playing Derry in the last game of the season to see who finishes ahead. To finish seventh or sixth would be a good achievement for the club as a whole and for the players who have worked really hard.
"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."
Among those likely to be given a chance to prove themselves for next season is Steven Beattie, who is likely to feature again in the back line.
Jason Byrne has also recovered from a knee injury while Anto Murphy, who was introduced from the bench last time out, could be in line for a start.
Sligo Rovers come into the game on the back of an impressive 4-0 victory over UCD and interim manager Gavin Dykes will be looking for a second win in charge of the Bit O' Red.
Once again, Sligo will still be without several players for the game because of injury. John Russell, Alan Keane, Jeff Henderson and Iarfhlaith Davoren will play no part in the game.
Gary Rogers is also doubtful for the game due to the ankle problem that has been troubling him recently.
David Cawley is absent due to suspension, having received eight bookings for the season. However, Dykes is boosted by the return from suspension of Seamus Conneely.
Dykes is enjoying his time in charge at the Showgrounds and feels that the players are responding to him: "The mood had been fairly good anyway, but we were delighted to get the win. The players have been great for myself and Ciaran since we came in," he said.
“In the UCD game we created 17 chances and it’s been a while since we have had that many. We will be looking to build on the win against Bohs."
Derry City v Limerick, 7.45pm
FAI Cup finalists Derry City may shake up their selection for the visit of Limerick to the Brandywell tonight.
Tuesday's heroics against Shamrock Rovers had an effect of the Candystripes squad, with a number of players doubtful this evening.
Ryan McBride (hamstring), Barry McNamee (groin) and Stephen Dooley (hamstring) will have fitness tests before the game.
Shaun Kelly is suspended, while Aaron Barry played through the pain barrier with a knee injury on Tuesday and he will not feature against Limerick.
Rory Patterson has concussion and could also be unavailable.
“We have a small squad which has been boosted with the promotion of some of our Under-21 players, and those players will be given an opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the FAI Cup final squad over our final three league matches,” Hutton told the Derry Journal.
Limerick remain without left-back Robbie Williams (hamstring) and winger Jack Doherty (hip flexor).
Patrick Nzuzi is also absent through suspension, having accumulated eight yellow cards.
The Superblues had a morale-boosting 4-2 win over Athlone last week and could go level on points with City with a win tonight.
“We’ll go to Derry and try to give a better performance than we did the last time we played them and take it from there,” boss Martin Russell said.
“We’ll see what points total we get at the end. But we also have used the games to have a look at one or two players, like Ali who came in last week and did ever so well.
“Obviously, Joseph Ndo came on and got some game-time too. Those things are important. I need to see probably another couple of things between now and the end of the season.
“We want to do both – look at players and get points on the board. I’ll pick a team that genuinely I think can win the game, so it’s not just a case of putting players out. We also have players who have Under-19 games to go and show how good they are.”
Drogheda United v St Patrick's Athletic, 7.45pm
St Patrick’s Athletic bring a 10-match unbeaten run to Drogheda tonight as they look to strengthen their hold on third place in the table.
Following last week’s 6-1 win over Finn Harps in the FAI Cup semi-final, manager Liam Buckley is keen for the Saints good form to continue and has stressed that tonight’s game is crucial with a view to securing third spot and European football next year.
Buckley said: “We want to finish as high as possible in the league, so if that is third position, we want to secure that as soon as possible.
Drogheda, however, will be tough opponents and Damien Richardson will have them well organised and ready for the game. "We took our chances well last Friday so we’ll be looking for that similar level of performance and standard,” he said.
United harbour hopes of a top-half finish and despite a number of injury concerns, Richardson is hoping to see a performance similar to last week against Cork City where they were narrowly defeated by the high-flying Rebels.
Daire Doyle and Gary O’Neill both have groin injuries but are expected to be fit, while Mick Daly is doubtful due to a back complaint.
Gavin Brennan will be suspended, having picked up his fourth red card of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Cork City, while Cathal Brady has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
Richardson stated: “I was very pleased with our performance in Cork as we were without a centre-forward from the start due to knocks and injuries, so we started Gavin in an unfamiliar position.
“Despite that, we had the home crowd at Turner's Cross on tenterhooks at the end and I was full of admiration for the character that the players showed. I hope to see a similar performance for the three remaining games this season.
“I think pound for pound, St Pat’s are probably the best team in the league and only injuries have hindered them this year from really competing for the title. They will obviously be full of confidence having qualified for the FAI Cup final at the weekend and they will pose a serious test for us without question.
“One of the players mentioned in the aftermath of last week’s game that at 2-0 at the start of the second half, the old Drogheda would have gone on to concede four or five more. There is a stronger character to this team and I’m expecting a much closer game against St Pat’s than in the past and I’m hoping that we can win.”
The Saints are without the services of Mark Quigley who is out with a back injury, while James Chambers serves a one-match suspension.
However, Buckley can call upon the services of Greg Bolger who returns from serving an FAI Cup suspension last Sunday.
UCD v Cork City, 7.45pm
With just one point separating them and bottom side Athlone, UCD are in a real relegation dogfight but will have it all to do against title hopefuls Cork City.
UCD will be able to welcome Conor Cannon back into the squad after he recovered from the injury he picked up against Shamrock Rovers.
Mark Langtry has made a miraculous recovery from the broken ankle he picked up over the summer and has an outside chance of being in the squad, subject to a late fitness test. Dean Clarke and Tomas Boyle will continue to miss out with back and hamstring injuries respectively.
UCD manager Aaron Callaghan remains hopeful of his side taking something from this game and said: "We will have to be at the top of our game to have a chance of picking up a result, but at this stage every game is as big as the next and we are hopeful of being able to pick up a good result.
"We were a little unlucky in the game in the Bowl earlier in the season and perhaps could have come away with a draw."
Cork are desperately chasing another win to keep up the pressure on Dundalk at the top.
With just goal difference separating the two sides, any slip-up at this stage could be crucial and manager John Caulfield has warned against any complacency.
"This is probably our most difficult game out of the last ten," he opined.
"If you look at us, we have taken 20 out of 24 points since we lost to Dundalk, with six wins and two draws. Those two draws were against Athlone and Bray, two of the bottom three teams, games everyone expected us to take full points from."
Gearóid Morrissey is ruled out of the trip to Dublin, but Caulfield’s midfield options are boosted by the return of Colin Healy from suspension. Danny Morrissey will also miss out, as will long-term injury victim Michael Rafter.
Josh O’Shea missed training earlier in the week, with the attacker still in some discomfort after being on the receiving end of a bad tackle in last week’s win over Drogheda, and he is rated as a doubt for the fixture.
Shamrock Rovers v Bray Wanderers, 8pm
Shamrock Rovers exited the FAI Cup on Tuesday night but manager Pat Fenlon is keen to see his players finish the season strongly, starting against Bray Wanderers tonight.
This will be the Hoops’ third game in six days, with a trip to take on the league leaders in Dundalk still to come next Monday.
Those recent matches have taken a toll on the Rovers squad, with four injury doubts for the Bray game.
Goalkeeper Barry Murphy, defender David O’Connor, midfielder Stephen McPhail and striker Dean Kelly are all doubtful for the match. Jason McGuinness is also suspended following his red card in Derry during the week.
While they will look for nine points to push St Patrick's Athletic for third position in the league, which would ensure automatic qualification for Europe, the Saints could also do their Dublin rivals a favour in the Cup decider.
A Pat's win will mean Rovers secure Europa League football in 2015.
“We’ve got to maintain our performances and keep winning our own games and hope that Pat’s drop points,” said Fenlon.
“However, if they win the Cup that is another option that would guarantee us passage to Europe so that is what we are looking at.”
Bray boss Alan Mathews insists that his side will travel to Tallaght Stadium full of confidence following two draws in their last two outings in games he claims his players should have won.
Speaking ahead of the trip, Mathews said "We are looking forward to the game and we want to take the positives from our last two performances into this game and do our very best to get the right result."
Mathews will have to plan without four of his squad who are suspended for Friday night's game. Ismahil Akinade and Shane O'Connor, both of whom were sent off against Drogheda, will have to sit this one out.
Also sidelined is Niall Cooney, who got his marching orders late on against Derry City, while captain Dave Webster serves a one-match ban, having received eight yellow cards.
