Waterford v Cork City, RSC, 8pm
It's second against third as Cork City take on Waterford in a bid to replace Dundalk at the top of the table.
The Lilywhites sit this round out after their disappointing Europa League defeat to AEK Larnaca on Thursday, which gives the Rebels the chance to move two points clear, albeit with two extra games played.
John Caulfield’s side come in to the game on the back of two wins, against Derry City (5-0) and Bray Wanderers (3-1), following their Champions League exit at the hands of Legia Warsaw.
The Blues have been beaten in their last two league outings, against Shamrock Rovers (1-0 at home) and Limerick (2-1 away), and are just a point clear of Rovers in the final Europa League spot.
The teams have met three times this season in the league, and once in the EA SPORTS Cup, with home advantage proving key thus far. In the league, City won 2-0 and 3-0 at Turner’s Cross, while the home side won the first league fixture at the RSC, 2-1 in April, before coming out on top after a penalty shoot-out at the same venue later that month.
Gaffer talk
John Caulfield (Cork City): Speaking at his weekly press conference, City boss John Caulfield said: "We know we have to keep the pressure on. We are going to Waterford, which is a great venue but a difficult place to go. They have brought in five or six players in the last month, and that just shows the investment they are making. It has given them a much stronger panel, so I expect the game on Friday to be tough and exciting. The most important thing for us is that we have to be ready for it."
Alan Reynolds (Waterford): "We know what we have to do to put right the run we’re on and we’re looking to do that. The players aren’t shying away from the results and they’re working as hard as ever in training. Cork will prove another difficult test on Friday and we’re all looking forward to it.
Team news
Cork: Colm Horgan is still side-lined, while Garry Buckley is a concern after suffering a strain in last Friday’s win over Bray Wanderers, but Gearóid Morrissey and Conor McCarthy will both hope to be in contention as they recover from injury.
Waterford: John Martin returns from an ankle injury while David Webster is suspended. Paul Keegan (calf) and Derek Daly (groin) are doubts, Cory Galvin misses the game with a knee injury, while Renars Rode is awaiting international clearance.
Derry City v Sligo Rovers, Brandywell, 7.45pm
Derry and Sligo meet for the the first of two games against each other in the space of four days. On Monday, they will do battle at the Showgrounds in the EA Sports Cup.
The Bit O'Red remain mired in a relegation battle and could desperately do with repeating their 2-0 victory at this venue in June.
Derry bounced back from their 5-0 thumping to Cork with victory over St Pat's last week and remain in the hunt for the European places.
Gaffer talk
Kenny Shiels (Derry) speaking to the BBC: "We've had a really difficult season and to stay up above the upper echelons has been great and I'm proud of the players. There's five points and four points is the difference and I would like us to get closer to that but you don't know how the league is going to pan out. You're depending on other results, but we've got to trust ourselves to go and play in a way in which we can win games and that's the long and the short of it."
Gerard Lyttle (Sligo): "This year we produced one of our best performances of the season in Derry. We moved it well, kept possession and concentration levels were great. We’re not going there thinking we can just turn up and a good performance will come. We have to earn it. It’s going to be tough and we need to be at our best in terms of focus. When you face a Kenny Shiels side, I know what he’s like, what type of manager and person he is. I worked under him as a player. They had a great win over St Pat’s last week. We have to focus on Sligo Rovers, it’s on ourselves. We need to be winning games and get points on the board."
Team news
Derry: New recruit Ally Roy could come into the team as he is cup-tied on Monday.
Sligo: Seamus Sharkey is suspended, Gary Boylan is out long-term with an ACL injury and Adam Wixted is a doubt after being involved in a minor car accident last week.
Bohemians v Limerick, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
It's a key relegation battle at Dalymount, with just four points separating Bohs in seventh and Limerick in ninth. Three meetings so far this season have yet to produce a winner.
Bohs need to rediscover the form of their 6-0 hammering of Bray after losing 2-0 at Oriel Park last time out.
Limerick will come in in great confidence having beaten Waterford 2-1 at Markets Field.
Gaffer talk
Keith Long (Bohemians): "There has been nothing between the sides this season with the three previous games finishing in draws and there is very little between the teams in terms of league standings either, so this game could prove very important in the context of our season. Limerick have a 48-hour advantage on us in terms of recovery but we have prepared well this week and everyone is looking forward to the challenge."
Team news
Bohemians: Striker Ryan Masterson comes into the squad having been signed last week. Skipper Derek Pender is available for selection after serving his two-match ban. Rob Cornwall (hamstring), a late withdrawal against Dundalk, remains a doubt and Ryan Swan (cruciate) remains out.
Limerick: Defensive duo Kilian Cantwell (five yellow cards) and Eoin Wearen (automatic ban) are both suspended. Shane Tracy (back) is also out along with Darren Dennehy (ankle).
St Patrick's Athletic v Bray Wanderers, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
Time is running out for bottom side Bray to mount a late escape from relegation with the gap to eight-placed Sligo now 11 points with nine games to play.
Confidence will have been boosted however by new majority share-holder Niall O'Driscoll guaranteeing wages until the end of the season and outlining long-term plans.
Team news
TBC
