Sligo Rovers and Bohemians are looking to bounce back from disappointing results last week when they meet on Tuesday in a rearranged SSE Airtricity Premier Division game from the opening day of the season.
Sligo suffered their first defeat of the season last Friday when Shelbourne claimed a surprise three points in The Showgrounds.
Having been considered possible contenders for the challenge, they now trail Derry City by eight points ahead of the final match of the opening series of the league.
The game in hand with the Gyspies was postponed on the first weekend of the campaign due to snow and rain in Sligo.
For Bohs, their plight is much more serious. It's just one win in seven matches and the manner of the injury-time concession to the Candystripes last Friday was particularly painful in being just a second loss during that run.
The Gypsies missed out on European football for 2022 and returning next season was their main focus this year.
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It's undoubtedly a significant game in that Liam Buckley’s men could move eight points clear of the Dublin outfit with a win, yet victory for Keith Long’s charges would put them on heels of St Patrick’s Athletic in third again.
The sides played out some very entertaining games last year. Sligo hit seven goals in two of the games, while Bohs also notched a victory as well as being held to a draw in the league finale which was part of the reason they missed out on the Europa Conference League.
The Showgrounds pitch has been troublesome this season and did not help the teams last Friday.
Liam Buckley is seeking a response from his side and reflection on why there were so flat has been the focus in the build-up to this game.
He said: "We were disappointed. We can do better from a playing point of view and we will look to do that on Tuesday against Bohemians. We never really got going on Friday and we just need to reflect on that and look ahead and put things right on Tuesday.
"We have had a good start to the season, and we have two important home games coming up this week. The lads have been fantastic since we’ve come in this season and I know they’ll be keen to get a good result.
"Bohemians are a strong side and will come down and give us a right good game. They had a fantastic season last year reaching the cup final and getting through a couple of rounds in Europe so we’re well aware of their threats.
"The crowd were great again on Friday night and supported us right until the end as we looked for an equaliser. I know they’ll be behind us again tonight.’’
Bit O’ Red top goalscorer Aidan Keena will be assessed following an injury sustained in the first half last Friday and will undergo a late fitness test.
Defender Nando Pijnaker comes back into contention.
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