Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers go into tonight's Dublin derby after making good strides in their respective targets in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division last Monday.
As always with these fixtures in north Dublin, the attendance could easily be treble of the just under 4,000 it will be this evening.
The Hoops welcomed 13,000 supporters between their two home games over the Bank Holiday, and more importantly added six points to the table courstest of 1-0 victories.
With Derry only adding a solitary one, the gap at the top is just one ahead of this round of games.
1-0 was also the scoreline in the last derby fixture when Rory Gaffney’s goal was enough against a Bohs side who didn’t reach their potential on the night.
That has the been the case for quite a bit of the season so far. However, the 4-1 demolition of Shelbourne on Monday showcased the attacking talent at Keith Long’s disposal.
Some clinical finishing helped Bohs and while they did give up chances, Long will be delighted by how his side put the game to bed, given they conceded an equaliser to a team with nine men just days earlier.
This match brings an altogether different task. At least now they bring confidence a base to build on.
A win could really transform the outlook at Dalymount Park. While Derry and the Hoops have opened up an advantage, the teams in behind continually take points off each other.
A home victory would cut the gap on Stephen Bradley’s side to five points. Bradley feels he can see his side finding their groove and the results also match that belief.
A win here would solidify their position and having faced two tricky home games, it would really hanker up the heat on Derry City.
The shock defeat to Shels did bring a response from Derry. They were unable to find a winning goal against a Drogheda side who are now unbeaten in six games.
The true test of Derry’s credentials will be if they can in through this series of games. UCD are the visitors tonight to the Ryan McBride Brandywell.
College are on the improve and will feel unlucky not to come away with something against St Patrick’s Athletic as a late own goal undid all their good work.
The Saints will be looking for an improve display as they welcome Finn Harps to Richmond Park. They sit in third place and hopeful of closing on the leaders should they drop points tonight.
A depleted Harps took Sligo Rovers all the way last Monday, showing great spirit when up against the odds.
In a Ollie Horgan outlook, a gallant defeat is still a defeat and the one win in 11 statistic is quite worrying now for all concerned in Donegal.
The final game of the night sees Shelbourne in happier surroundings as they go back on the road against Dundalk.
Unable to win at home so far this campaign, the high of winning in Derry was met with the low of the derby defeat to Bohs.
Dundalk are in a solid position under Stephen O’Donnell as they sit in the middle of the standings. The sides played out a 1-1 draw earlier in the campaign and another tight affair is likely.
Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Courage and belief is the order of the day for Keith Long as their arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers visit Dalymount.
After conceding late goals in three of their previous four games, Bohs were a different animal on Monday in Tolka Park.
Long wants to see the right mentality first and foremost.
"Rovers are in great form and have quality players and a depth of squad unrivalled in this league.
"We will have to perform at our optimum tonight and that's a fantastic challenge for us.
"It’s essential we show great courage to retain belief."
James Finnerty (knee) is making progress but still a number of weeks away from full fitness, while Stephen Mallon (ankle) is likely to miss out.
Meanwhile, loanee JJ McKiernan has returned to Watford, with Long revealing it is by mutual agreement due to a lack of game time as he thanked the player.
For the Hoops, Graham Burke is fit as they bring a full squad into the game.
Stephen Bradley is excited by the occasion with the Hoops players clicking into top gear.
"It's always a difficult game. Dublin derbies are always difficult. We’ve had a few of them this year and they are always tight games and I don’t see this being any different.
"There's always more excitement, whether it’s Pat’s, Bohs or Shels. There’s always excitement around them. You do obviously feel that but we’ve got to make sure that we focus and do what we have been doing – and that’s performing.
"The game are always tetchy. They're always tight and competitive. You need a bit of luck on the night, that’s an obvious one in derby games. You need things to go your way and hopefully it goes our way in this one"
Derry City v UCD, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
UCD have only secured one point away from home this season but that was a creditable draw in Sligo.
Having seen Shelbourne take points in Derry last week, they'll hold no fears and will appreciate the surface on the Brandywell pitch.
For the home side, Ruadhri Higgins feels his players can recover from not getting the results they wanted last weekend.
"We knew there would be frustrating times this year and there will no doubt be more over the course of a long season" he said.
"I'd be more concerned if our performances were poor but that hasn't been the case. We were excellent in Drogheda on Monday night but we just need to be more clinical when the chances come.
"We've prepared well for UCD. They have been causing teams a lot of trouble this season and we will have to be ready for another tough game.
"There are really good attacking options throughout the squad and I know we're very capable of causing any team problems."
"We will look to stay on the front foot on Friday night and pick up another three points."
Brian Maher returns to the City squad after missing the last two games through illness. Elsewhere, the City boss has a clean bill of health, bar his two long-term absentees Ciaron Harkin and Michael Duffy
St Patrick's Athletic v Finn Harps, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
Ollie Horgan described Finn Harps' first half performance against Sligo Rovers as one of their worst in several seasons.
In true Harps fashion, they responded with a radical change in the second period.
Only for Edward McGinty and some poor finishing, they could have come away with some points.
Suspensions and injuries have hit Harps hard.
Ryan Rainey, Eric McWoods and Elie-Gael N'Zeyi will return for this fixture after missing the Sligo defeat.
However, Dave Webster, Ryan Connolly and José Carrillo are all struggling for this fixture.
Saints boss Tim Clancy feels picking up points at Richmond Park is vital to a good first season at the club.
As they struggle for consistency, the former Drogheda boss noted the early days of his tenure, with plans to add more to his squad soon.
"We need to pick up more points at home. We are sitting third in the league, it's very, very tight.
"When we came into the club, it was late on in the off-season I suppose and there was only one senior player at the club in Jamie Lennon that was signed so we had a massive rebuild.
"We tried to do as best we could in the window. We brought players in and we are hoping to bring some players in in the summer that will give us a dig-out.
"We know it's going to be a difficult game on Friday, there have been no easy games this season really throughout the league and it is going to be another very difficult one for us."
Jamie Lennon (foot) and Adam Murphy (hamstring) remain unavailable, Ben Curtis and Paddy Barrett have returned to the training but this game may come too soon.
Dundalk v Shelbourne, Oriel Park, 7.45pm
Damien Duff is calling for cool heads from his team as they prepare to take on Dundalk tonight.
Undoubtedly a work in progress, and with the Republic of Ireland legend learning to deal with the rollercoaster that is managing a Premier Division side, he has taken a calmer approach to the heavy loss to Bohs.
"We have to be realistic to where we are. We're going to have ups and downs this season – are we going to win every game? Probably not but are we going to try win every game? Absolutely.
The Reds manager feels the difference of their home and away record "nothing tactical or technical but probably something emotional".
As they make the short journey to Louth, he believes his side can come away with a positive result again.
"Dundalk always had that quality. They’ve got a new team, similar to us, and are rebuilding with some new players.
"We’ve got two tough big away games coming up but we’ve talked about why our away record is so good and we’re looking forward to the game.
Brian McManus' injury is described as short-term and will face a fitness test in an injury boost for the Reds who will also be without Sean McSweeney, Daniel Hawkins and David Toure through injury.
Dundalk's loss to Shamrock Rovers was just their second of the season.
Brian Gartland is suspended after being sent off in that game while there are injury doubts over Robbie Benson and Dan Williams.
Lilywhites boss Stephen McDonnell hopes his side can bounce back from that defeat but having drawn 1-1 with Shels last month, knows they will be testing opponents.
"We need to play with the same energy and application that we went in with last week against Sligo, and to a certain extent in Tallaght on Monday," he said.
"We had a tough game at Tolka Park earlier in the season and in their last two games, Shels have gone away to Sligo and Derry and taken maximum points so we know it's going to be difficult. They play in their shape and they carry a threat so it’s up to us to ask enough questions to bang their door down."
