Cork City v Longford Town, 7.45pm
Cork City host bottom of the table Longford Town desperate for a win to reignite their title challenge (Live on RTÉ2).
John Caulfield's side have only taken two points from a possible nine in their last three games, far from title-contending form.
Their last two games ended scoreless, away to Derry City and at home to Bohemians, while Sligo Rovers inflicted a 2-1 defeat prior to that at Turner's Cross.
Caulfield said: "There are 13 games to go in the league, we are four points off top and we are in a fantastic position. We’ve played six European games, we are in the quarter finals of the cup and it is all to play for in the league.
"We are right in there, but we need a win.”
"It is a huge game, we are at home, it’s live on TV and we are all looking forward to it.”
John Dunleavy, Alan Smith, Danny Morrissey, Steven Beattie, Alan Bennett, Garry Buckley are all injured for the Leesiders.
Longford are on an even worse run as they slide towards an almost inevitable relegation. St Pat's, Wexford and Shamrock Rovers all took three points off Town in the last three rounds.
New manager Alan Mathews takes charge for the first time.
Longford team news unavailable.
St Patrick's Athletic v Bohemians, 7.45pm
The Saints will be hoping for a repeat of their last home league game against the Gypsies at the start of the season, which saw Pat’s run out 3-0 winners.
St Pat's boss Liam Buckley has a fully healthy squad but will be without the services of the suspended Sean Hoare.
"Dublin derbies are always great occasions and Friday's game against Bohemians will be no different," Buckley told stpatsfc.com.
"We've seen two very different results when the sides have met this year so a tight game is likely to be on the cards."
"We've put together a couple of results lately and that has been very pleasing. However we have still got to take it a game at a time, and fully focus on the opposition so our focus since last weekend has been on Bohs and putting in a performance to try and win the three points."
By contrast, Bohs will be hoping for a similar outcome that saw the Phibsboro side coast to a 5-1 win against the Saints at the end of May.
“We’ve put together a couple of results lately and that has been very pleasing," said boss Liam Buckley.
"However we have still got to take it a game at a time, and fully focus on the opposition so our focus since last weekend has been on Bohs and putting in a performance to try and win the three points.”
Defender Sean Hoare is unavailable as he serves a one match suspension.
Bohemians will be without defenders Stephen Best (ankle) and Derek Pender (suspended), while Mark Quigley and Ismahil Akinade are both doubts to make the squad.
Wexford Youths v Dundalk, 8pm
Wexford Youths are fresh from a quality 2-1 win over Sligo Rovers to reach the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup quarter finals for the first time ever, just two weeks after taking a 5-0 thumping from the same side in the league.
Wexford pushed Dundalk extremely close in their most recent meeting in Oriel Park, a 93rd-minute winner from Patrick McEleney saved Dundalk's blushes to give them a 3-2 win.
Shane Keegan was understandably confident going into the game: "We've given Dundalk two cracking games already this season so there's no reason why we shouldn't believe that we can do the same again, and hopefully even go one step further and take something from the game this time around," he said.
Danny Furlong, Danny Ledwith, Chris Kenny and Shane Dempsey are all out for the game, with Eric Molloy being a doubt. Gary Delaney and Paul Murphy are suspended.
Dundalk may be excused for taking their eye off domestic affairs while in a battle for Champions League group stage football but they will need to arrest a slump that has seen them beaten by both Bray and Galway on the home front.
The Louth side, however, still remain three points clear at the top of the table with Derry City chasing in second.
Robbie Benson, goalscorer in the 1-1 draw with Legia, which saw them knocked out of the Champions League, said: “I’m very disappointed with the result on Tuesday night and to go out of the tie altogether.
"We come so close to winning and to draw the game with a last-minute goal is a sickener. We aren’t happy with that but we must pick ourselves up.
"We have the Europa League to look forward to now and we have the league as well.
“We have a very important game against Wexford Youths. We have to keep our eye on the ball because the only way we’ll get back to the Champions League next year is by winning our domestic league and this weekend’s game against Wexford is a huge game for us.”
The Europa League club will be without Ciaran Kilduff (knee), Dane Massey (concussion), while Daryl Horgan is suspended.
Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers, 8pm
Finn Harps aim to dig deep to apply the brakes on a potential slide into the relegation zone.
There is so much at stake for both sides with the Hoops still very much in contention for European football next season.
The contrasting positions in the table should make this an intriguing contest for the big crowd that is expected at Finn Park.
Manager Ollie Horgan said: “They have some of the best players in the country.
"While it will be a very difficult game for us, it is great to have such a big club with serious quality players coming to play us in Ballybofey."
In team news Damian McNulty remains out long term with a knee problem but Gareth Harkin is nearing full fitness although he is still considered doubtful. Josh Mailey, Dave Scully and Ciaran Coll are also concerns.
Rovers come into this game on the back of an impressive win against Athlone Town last Friday.
This is the third meeting between these sides this year and the Hoops remain unbeaten against Harps, winning one game and drawing the other game.
“We’re feeling good and looking forward to each game lately,” caretaker manager Stephen Bradley said, “we’re playing with confidence the last few weeks and we’re scoring a lot of goals.”
The Dublin side are still without Luke Byrne who is ruled out for the remainder of 2016, while Evan Osam is ruled out for this game.
Shamrock Rovers have taken the maximum 18 points against newly promoted sides last season; this year it is 10 out of 15 so far.
