Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny has aired his disappointment and frustration at his side having to play eight games in a hectic 20-day schedule as the climax to the domestic campaign collides with their European odyssey.
The Lilywhites are four points clear of Cork City at the SSE Airtricity Premier Division table with seven league games to go.
With the Leesiders breathing down their neck, Kenny's men also have the small matter of a Europa League showdown against Zenit St Petersburg at Tallaght Stadium. It's left the Dundalk manager utterly exasperated.
"We were under the impression the league would be extended up the the [October] Bank Holiday Monday," he told RTÉ 2fm's Game On.
"We're very disappointed with the way the fixtures have been handed to us. We're delighted to be in everything, we don't want to be seen as complaining. It's a great honour to be Ireland's representative s in the Europa League.
You wouldn't treat horses like that. The players have to be treated well - Stephen Kenny
"But you're trying to play teams like Zenit, who've won the Europa League and been in the Champions League, and you've a game two days either side of it.
"You wouldn't treat horses like that. The players have to be treated well and not expected to go out and play eight games in 20 days like that."
Dundalk face Sligo Rovers at home this Saturday, 8 October, and will finish the league against Galway United at Oriel Park on 28 October.
Sandwiched between an away date at Longford Town and a home meeting with Bohemians, the champions go to Russia.
There's been several tweaks to the fixture list. Dundalk's trip to Longford will now take place on Monday, 17 October [8.0pm], having originally been slated for Saturday, 1 October.
Their Oriel Park meeting with Bohs - postponed back in July - will be played on Sunday, 23 October [7.0pm], while a trip to St Patrick's Athletic, which had been pencilled in for Friday, 16 September, will now take place on Tuesday, 25 October [7.45pm].
Cork are also facing a demanding run-in of seven league games in less than three weeks.
They travel to Galway on Saturday and sign off against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.
John Caulfield's men face Wexford Youths on Monday, 24 October [7.45pm]. It was originally scheduled for Friday, 30 September.
Dundalk and Cork will also square off in the FAI Senior Cup in November, a repeat of last year's showpiece decider, which the former edged 1-0 in extra-time to clinch the double.
In another what will be big ask for Dundalk, they take on Zenit in Russia just three days before the Aviva Stadium final.
Meanwhile Sligo Rovers' game against Longford Town, originally scheduled for Saturday, 15 October, will now take place the night before [7.45pm].
