Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers, Oriel Park, 7.45pm (Live on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player)
The Premier Division fixture list has a bare look this weekend. Montenegro's status on the UK government red list prompted Republic of Ireland U21 manager Jim Crawford to select an extended a squad loaded with home-based players for their visit to the country next week.
The original squad for Luxembourg had already forced the postponement of the St Pat's-Bohemians and Finn Harps-Drogheda games.
The composition of the extended squad for Montenegro - which includes players from Derry, Sligo and Longford - has now added Derry-Waterford and Sligo-Longford to that list.
Only one match has survived the cull.
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers was a blue riband, top-of-the-table clash two years ago but the collapse in stature of the hosts in 2021 has taken the sheen off the fixture.
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Stephen Bradley's side, while not quite playing with the same flair and flourish of 2020, are patently cantering towards a second league title in a row.
They have won the past four league games in a row since their loss in Ballybofey to the doughty Finn Harps at the beginning of September.
Their 1-0 win in Inchicore two weeks ago pushed them nine points clear of St Patrick's Athletic and probably shut the door on hopes of a tense title run-in. Again, it was a late goal (an own goal) which handed them victory. The sheer volume of late goals and injury-time goals chalked up by Rovers - including a remarkable three injury-time winners against bottom side Longford Town - has been staggering.
Dundalk, meanwhile, after a torrid season, have begun to pull clear of danger in the past few weeks.
After registering one point from five games in August and early September, Dundalk rustled up vital back-to-back wins at home to Sligo Rovers and Bohemians to haul themselves above Marc Bircham's Waterford side and out of the relegation-promotion playoff spot.
Though they missed the chance to clamber into 7th spot with a 2-2 draw away to Finn Harps last Friday.
The morale of the club overall may be damaged by the imminent exits of Patrick McEleney and Michael Duffy back to their hometown club in Derry but manager Vinny Perth is still sounding a bullish note.
After the win over Bohs, Perth was at pains to argue that the losing run was primarily a consequence of both poor luck on the pitch and, perhaps more significantly, Covid-19 related disruptions off the pitch. The Dundalk boss also cited other health concerns and standard more run-of-the-mill injury issues.
"We were so hurt with the injuries and the sickness and the Covid issues that we've had. It's for other people to laugh and sneer but as a group, we've stuck together," Perth said.
And he warned, "When we get our best team on the pitch, we're more than a match for most in this league."
Team News
Dundalk: Raivis Jurkovskis and Sonni Nattestad are on international duty while Patrick McEleney, Brian Gartland, Daniel Kelly, David McMillan and Wilfried Zahibo are all injured. Will Patching is doubtful after limping off in the 2-2 draw with Finn Harps.
Shamrock Rovers: Graham Burke remains a doubt for the game, while Roberto Lopes is away on international duty with Cape Verde.
What they said
Vinny Perth (Dundalk): "Stephen Bradley and his staff deserve real credit for the way they have managed their group this year. They have spent heavily and brought in a lot of top players but they have also had to manage those players, which they've done really well.
"There is no doubt that the Rovers squad is far superior to ours at the moment but benches win games of football and when we have our best players available, we are as good as anybody in the league.
"The crowd have played a huge part in our last three games at Oriel Park and we’re going to need that again on Friday night. It’s been great for the players but I think the fans have really enjoyed being back at matches. The last 18 months have been very difficult for everyone in the country and what else would you rather be doing on a Friday night than supporting your local team?"
Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers): "We're really confident. We're playing well and winning games, so we'll go there full of confidence.
"We know it's a difficult game, it always is because they have some really good players. But it's a game we're ready for and looking forward to.
"I think when you play Dundalk, whether it's home or away you've got to respect that they have some very, very good players. I've always said that's one thing that hasn't changed there.
"If you're not quite on it, they obviously can hurt you, so we've got to make sure that we go there and impose ourselves on the game as soon as possible."
