Shamrock Rovers v Cork City, Tallaght Stadium, 7.45pm
When the sides met in this exact fixture back at the end of April, Shamrock Rovers were in the midst of a traumatic run which saw them tumble out of the reckoning.
However, on that evening, they forgot their worries to ride roughshod over the reigning champions, Graham Burke, Ethan Boyle and Ricardo Lopes on target in a 3-0 win.
The hosts' form is considerably healthier these days and they've recently risen above Waterford to clamber into the European spot.
With Cork presumably now focused on retaining the FAI Cup, Rovers can go a long way to ensuring their Europa League entry for next year.
Team news
Shamrock Rovers: To follow
Cork City: Colm Horgan, Johnny Dunleavy, Karl Sheppard, Steven Beattie and Alan Bennett will all be sidelined for the Rebels.
Gaffer talk
Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers): "I'm expecting a tough game like we always get against Cork, whether it's home or away. They'll come and be at it like they always are. We'll have to really hit our levels to win the game.
"I'm sure John Caulfield will be looking at Monday night as the more important game for them, which is obviously understandable. But it doesn't matter what team they bring, whether they come with a full strength team or a weakened team. We've got to prepare like we always do and be ready to face the best Cork team that's going to be there. If we don't do that we'll find ourselves on the wrong end of a result."
John Caulfield (Cork City): "We will have a look at things over the next few days. We have called in seven of the Under 19s, so obviously we will make a number of changes. Steven Beattie is obviously out after his injury on Sunday. We will change things bearing in mind the cup replay on Monday; I expect that some of the 19s will play as well."
"You have to admire the character and the desire of the lads to keep going and get back in the match. These lads have had a bad month and been criticised a lot, but you have to admire the way they kept fighting to the bitter end. We feel from the performance on Sunday that the lads are getting their confidence back, and they played much more like a Cork City team."
"Rovers are on a brilliant run and they are going for Europe; third spot is in their grasp. It is going to be difficult, but we still have a lot of very strong players who will play, and we will integrate them with some of the younger players, and it will be great experience for those lads."
Dundalk v St Patrick's Athletic, Oriel Park, 7.45pm
It's easy to forget - given the understandable air of coronation that hung around Oriel Park following their win over Derry nine days ago - but Dundalk haven't technically won the league title yet.
The destination of the trophy is not in doubt however and they only need one point from their remaining four matches to make sure - and they might not even need that should Cork, as is highly likely, fail to win all their matches. In other words, it's an impossibility they won't win it.
Once the title is claimed, Dundalk will sit second in the all-time LOI roll of honour alongside Shelbourne on 13 league titles.
Their opponents, meanwhile, are searching for a new manager after Liam Buckley ended his second spell in charge last week.
As was the case with his first stint, this latest period in charge yielded a league win with Buckley guiding Pat's to the title in 2013. They're followed a long awaited Cup win in 2014 but straitened financial circumstances in recent years have seen them fail to seriously challenge the hegemony of Dundalk and Cork City.
Buckley departed with Pat's sitting in sixth spot in the table. Former captain Ger O'Brien will take over as caretaker until the rest of the season but has ruled himself out as a permanent option.
Team news
Dundalk: Karolis Chvedukas is out for the remainder of the campaign after undergoing an ankle operation and Stephen O'Donnell is continuing his recovery from a broken leg. Jamie McGrath and Sean Hoare are doubts with groin and hamstring injuries respectively but are expected to be fit.
St Patrick's Athletic: Caretaker manager Ger O'Brien will be without the services of both Darragh Markey and Dean Clarke through suspension, while striker Christy Fagan remains out with a knee injury.
Gaffer/player talk
Patrick McEleney (Dundalk midfielder): "We have to get over the line in the league first before we do anything. Pat's are a good side and we know they will come here trying to win the game but we know what we have to do.
"We have to go and do our job and get things done. Hopefully, we can get the win and do it in front of our own fans. "
Ger O'Brien (St. Pat's caretaker manager): "Dundalk have been very good this season and having seen them play recently, they have been impressive on their way to claiming this year's league title. We know it will be a tough game against them in Oriel Park and we will need to be at our best to get a result."
"We have four games left this season and the aim will be to try and pick up as many points as we can. That starts on Friday night against Dundalk."
Bohemians v Waterford FC, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
The home team's remarkable winning run ended last weekend with Darragh Leahy's concession of a late penalty allowing Cork City to force an FAI Cup semi-final replay in Turner's Cross.
In league terms, Waterford are the side with most riding on this, with a European place still there to be nabbed, while Bohs' only motivation is sorting out their place in the standings.
Waterford have kept touch with Shamrock Rovers in the battle for third following wins over Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers in the past few weeks and they'll need to keep close to their rivals before the pivotal meeting in Tallaght on the penultimate weekend of the season.
With the semi-final replay approaching fast on Monday, Bohs may not want to bust a gut here lest they sap themselves ahead of a far more consequential encounter.
Team news
Bohemians: Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Ryan Masterson (thigh) are the only players ruled out but Bohs are expected to make changes ahead of Monday's FAI Cup semi-final against Cork City.
Waterford FC: Izzy Akinade serves a one-match suspension having picked up five yellow cards while Cory Galvin misses out through illness.
Gaffer talk
Keith Long (Bohemians): "It would be foolhardy not to have one eye on Monday's game so we will obviously change things up a little.
"But our hands are tied on that front to a certain extent too. Of the players you'd like to bring into the squad, four of them - Andy Lyons, Ali Reghba, Promise Omochere and Ryan Graydon - played a draining game last night.
"So we have to be mindful of that and manage our squad correctly as we don't want to be pushing players too much.
"They've been tight affairs against Waterford this season.
"We've drawn one and lost twice to them but they were games we felt that we left points behind and where our performances deserved more so we want to get a result tomorrow and consolidate our place in the table."
Alan Reynolds (Waterford FC): "I was delighted with the win in our last game against Sligo Rovers. There wasn’t a lot in the game but I was delighted that we got the goal and got the points.
"We had no match last weekend but the players have trained well and they’re raring to get back on the pitch to build on the last two results.
"We’re well aware of the great form that Keith [Long] has his side in so we know it’s going to be a really tough game up there. I think we’ve been great all season and I’m looking for a big push from everybody for the last four games."
Limerick v Derry City, Markets Field, 7.45pm
Two teams who are not exactly cock-a-hoop with life at the moment meet in Markets Field.
Limerick are almost certainly bound for the fraught relegation/promotion playoff with any one of Finn Harps, Shelbourne or Drogheda United lying in wait.
Derry City's season is petering out limply. The Candystripes have lost five in a row in the league and haven't won since a 2-1 home defeat of Pat's in the final week of July.
Relegation is no longer a possibility but their miserable run has resulted in them falling below both Bohemians and St. Patrick's Athletic in the standings.
Team news
Limerick: To follow
Derry City: Kevin McHattie is suspended for the Candystripes, Conor McDermott and Rory Hale are both sidelined through injury, while Jamie McDonagh is a doubt with a groin injury.
Gaffer talk
Tommy Barrett (Limerick): To follow
Kenny Shiels (Derry City): "We’re travelling down with a squad of 15 and several of them are development lads, but that’s fine. We know what we need to do and we’ll go there looking to win the game."
"We have four matches to go and we’re four points behind Bohs and Pats so it’s still possible to put some pressure on the teams above us."
Drogheda United v Shelbourne
Drogheda United will be looking to make home advantage count when they host Shelbourne in the first leg of the First Division promotion play-off at 7.45pm om United Park.
The Drogs clinched the final play-off spot on the final night of the season as they won 2-0 away to EA Sports Cup finalists Cobh Ramblers at St Colman’s Park.
They take on Shelbourne over two legs with the winners playing Finn Harps over two legs before the winners of that game take on the team that finishing ninth in the Premier Division.
The sides have played four times this season with two draws and a win apiece between them.
Team news
Drogheda: No suspensions or injury concerns.
Shelbourne: Dave Mulcahy is out through injury, while Greg Moorhouse is suspended having reached a count of five yellow cards.
Gaffer talk
Tim Clancy (Drogheda) "It would obviously be great to have a lead going into the second leg but unless something crazy happens, the tie won’t be won or loss on Friday.
"The three games between us this season would suggest that there isn’t much between us and I’m expecting a similarly close game.
"I think we proved it once again against Longford a few weeks ago that we play our best football against the better sides and hopefully we can repeat that."
