It is a monumental day for the SSE Airtricity League as WatchLOI broadcasts its first ever game in the restarted Premier Division.
The action then moves from streaming to RTE2 in what will be a feast of football after a 21-week famine.
Subscribe to WatchLOI to stream 55 Airtricity League matches and selected FAI Cup games this season.
Derry City v Sligo Rovers, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 5.45pm, WatchLOI.ie
In this short season where every game counts, both these sides will be keen to make a positive opening performances after slow starts back in February.
City have invested in their squad, with some enforced changes and also moving players on like Tim Nilsen and Jamie McDonagh.
Sligo lost all four games and face a battle to avoid the drop. City have the advantage of an extra four weeks of training as they were one of the first teams to return.
Team news
Derry City: Adam Hammill, Joe Thomson, Jake Dunwoody, James Akintunde and Ibrahim Meite join the squad Darren Cole has return from a cruciate ligament injury.
Sligo Rovers: Ronan Murray and Lewis Banks are now fit and available.
Danny Kane (foot) could return to training next week. Johnny Dunleavy has featured off the bench in the friendly games and he is back in the squad.
New signing Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe has received his work permit and visa and available in that respect. However, due to quarantining, he will not be taking part on Friday.
John Mahon is not ready to return to action following his leg break in February. It is hoped he can make a full return in the coming weeks.
Gaffer talk
Declan Devine (Derry City): "This league is competitive enough as it is with just ten teams, but everybody will look to be on the front foot straight away as there won't be much time to make up any lost ground."
"I’m delighted with the business we’ve done in this window and I think our supporters will be excited to see these lads play."
"Not having our fans in the stadium is a big blow; everybody knows what this place is like when it’s rocking, but the players are aware that thanks to the streaming service, the people that they represent will be backing them from their homes and we will be mindful of that."
Liam Buckley (Sligo Rovers): "When the players returned to training they were in good condition and they've worked very hard over the last few weeks.
"It hasn’t been ideal in having the short period of training and missing lads who have gone through quarantine. There’s an imbalance in the league in that. But this is the situation and we have to make the best of what we have.
"We are representing the people who fund this club and will fund us from now to the end of the season. We owe it to everyone that we give it absolute everything and show what it means to be a part of Sligo Rovers.
"With the start we did make, we’ve had the last 21 weeks of sitting at the bottom of the table and it has been on my mind for that period. It’s not the place we want to be. We need to be calm, leave no stone unturned over the next months and get the results we need."
Dundalk v St Patrick's Athletic, Oriel Park 7.45pm, RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and WatchLOI.ie
As football arrives back, so do some familiar faces at Oriel Park. Stephen O'Donnell had a successful time with the club as a player but arrives as manager of the opposition for this game.
David McMillan is also back at Oriel for a second spell after leaving Scotland.
The champions are on the backfoot from the start, knowing Shamrock Rovers have a three point lead going into the game and an easier game on paper this weekend against Finn Harps. Slip-ups must be avoided even at this early stage of the second part of the campaign.
Team news
Dundalk: N/A
St Patrick's Athletic: Stephen O'Donnell has a near fully squad available, with new signings David Titov (formerly of Brentford) and ex Bradford City man Jordan Gibson having received international clearance.
New striker Georgie Kelly is unavailable due to the terms of his loan deal from parent club Dundalk.
Gaffer talk
Vinny Perth (Dundalk): N/A
Stephen O'Donnell (St Patrick's Athletic): "It's a hectic schedule, a bit of a crazy one after having so long off. Having so many games in a short period of time, the main concern for the players will be injury prevention and it is somewhat inevitable that you will pick up injuries with that schedule after so long off.
"But we will deal with it as best we can and like I’ve said, we are all looking forward to getting back and it will be all hands to the pump for the games coming up."
