Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic finally meet tonight in a fixture originally set to take place in the summer which stoked lots of ill-feeling for the home side.
Pat's were beaten at home by Derry City last Friday meaning they will stay fourth regardless of the outcome of this game in north Dublin.
As always, the top three in the SSE Airtricity League are guaranteed a place in the Europa Conference League, along with the Extra.ie FAI Cup winner.
The Emmet Road club relinquished their grasp of the trophy in the first round against Waterford in the summer, meaning their only route to Europe next season is via the league.
Pat's need to get back to winning ways quickly as they trail Dundalk in third spot by five points.
It comes with the caveat that if the cup winner finishes in the top three in the league, then their European place goes to fourth place, so the Saints could be hoping that the Candystripes come good at the Aviva Stadium next month.
Interestingly, the only other Premier Division club that has a shout in the cup is Shelbourne. Their most recent run in the top flight only lasted one season, but things are going much better this time around for the Richmond Road men.
They can't be caught by the bottom two so they've already bettered their 2020 campaign. A victory tonight would put them within striking distance of Sligo Rovers in sixth.
Shels have First Division opposition - in the shape of Waterford - in the cup semi-final. A trip to Lansdowne Road for a cup final, for just the second time this century, would a great achievement in Damien Duff's first season as a manager, and victory there would see them heading into Europe.
That's all a long way away yet, and after drawing with the then bottom side in division on Friday, Duff's men will want to get back to winning ways.
Their last top flight victory came against UCD in late August, and they've failed to win in their seven league games since, interspliced with cup wins against Bray, Bonagee and Bohemians.
Pat's interest in the Conference league, coupled with issues securing a chartered flight back to Dublin after an impressive away win in Sofia, meant the game was postponed at short notice.
Shels weren't happy, making their frustrations clear in a statement which said it was, "incredibly unfair on our supporters, volunteers and the Gardai to have had Sunday's game called off at short notice."
The FAI decided last month that the game would be rescheduled, while acknowledging Shels' frustrations, and confirming that they would review the policy on late postponements ahead of next summer's European schedule.
FAI acknowledge frustrations as Shels-St Pat's re-fixed
These sides have met twice this season, with Pat's winning comfortably 3-0 on the opening night at Tolka back in February, before Shels set the record straight with a 2-1 victory in Inchicore in May.
Shels will be without Jack Moylan and Brian McManus who remain sidelined with injury, Dan Hawkins and Conor Kane are also long term injury absences.
"It's massive achievement from the players, it’s brilliant for the club," said Damien Duff of his side securing Premier Division soccer for 2023.
"It’s been 16 years since we did consecutive seasons in the Premier Division, we’ve done it now but we’re not celebrating. The players had their 'well done’ and the pat and the back, but we’re quick to refocus now, two Dublin Derbies and a semi-final in the FAI Cup, it’s exciting times for the club."
Pat's will travel across the Liffey later without the suspended duo of Anto Breslin and Chris Forrester, while Adam Murphy is still recovering from an operation on his hamstring.
"We've had a win and a defeat against Shelbourne this season, the last time at Tolka we were excellent," said Pat's manager Tim Clancy.
"We scored some brilliant goals and I was very happy with out work-rate and defending that helped us to a great win on the first night of the season.
"[This] is a new game and we know we'll need to be at our best to pick up the three points, that's what we'll be aiming to do in front of another big away support."
