Leaders Derry City take on a Dundalk side growing in confidence tonight in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division, while Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic go in search of a much-needed win in Dublin derbies.
The Candystripes have been efficient in taking 10 points out of 12 so far in the league, with assistant manager Alan Reynolds acknowledging that there is plenty more to come from City over the next 32 games.
They welcome the Lilywhites who have bounced back from a slow start to register six points and seven goals over four days.
New signings such as Rayhaan Tulloch on loan from West Brom have found their feet quickly and it allows the visitors to travel north with a feeling they can silence what is likely to a partisan Brandywell crowd.
The bottom four of the Premier Division consists of four teams based in Dublin – two of which meet this evening.
The Hoops travel to Tolka Park to face Shelbourne, and both teams will feel they should have more points on the board thus far.
The concerning factor for Stephen Bradley’s side is their uncharacteristic poor defending in the last week, shipping four goals at home to Cork City on Monday on the back of the loss to Derry.
With the gap to the leaders at seven points after four games, Bradley has been playing it cool in his assessments of the early-season standings.
But there will be a realisation that allowing Derry to grow a significant advantage would leave an uphill task to complete their four in a row.
Shels have four points from as many matches, ruing narrow losses to Pat’s and Dundalk and feeling the loss of some key forward players such as Sean Boyd and Matty Smith.
It sets up an important game in what will be a sold out Drumcondra venue.
The outlier in slow starts for Dublin teams are Bohemians, who make the short journey across the city with three wins under their belt to take a St Patrick’s Athletic side veering towards a crisis.
While it's early in the year, Saints supporters were unhappy with their feeble performances on the road in the last week and are seeking a response.
The match sold out several days ago with 5,000 descending on Inchicore.
Tim Clancy has been scathing in his assessments, describing their defending as mind-boggling.
It was a young Saints side which were beaten by Sligo. Veteran striker Eoin Doyle stood out in experience with the rest of the side having an average age of just over 21.
Expect more senior players such as Chris Forrester to come back into the side.
These three matches will dominate headlines tonight. However the other game will have big ramifications at the bottom of the table.
UCD have greatly disappointed in their last two matches, being comprehensively beaten by Derry and Cork City.
It's vital Andy Myler's side put a win on the board as soon as possible with Drogheda a likely relegation rival already six points ahead.
Derry City v Dundalk, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
Derry have played just a single league game at home so it will be exciting for their supporters to welcome Dundalk in a match between two form teams.
By a quirk of the fixture list three matches have been on the road and the 2-0 success over Cork City two weeks ago didn't have too many spills and thrills.
This game could be different.
Ruaidhri Higgins returns to take charge after travelling to Sweden following the death of his brother.
The City boss was full of praise for his players and staff, insisting they had been "a real credit to the club" while he had been dealing with the bereavement.
Derry have dealt with some absentees on the pitch early in the season, something Higgins sees as very encouraging.
"We've had a few injuries, that's no secret, but compared to even last year, we have been able to bring genuine quality into the team.
"They always seem to be tight games with Dundalk but we will be going into the match looking to put on a performance and trying to keep this wee run going.
"It's only been four games so nobody is getting carried away.
"We don't want to hide behind anything either though. We want to improve on last season and improving on that means a very real challenge to winning the title.
"We have the group of players here now to do that but we have to stay focused and try to build on a good start.
"Thankfully we have no fresh injuries but it's unlikely we'll add anyone to the panel that did so well across the last two matches."
That means Cameron Dummigan, Cameron McJannet, Michael Duffy and Adam O'Reilly remain out.
Dundalk boss Stephen O'Donnell has pointed to his side's fine record at the venue as they look to make it nine points in a week.
"We're really looking forward to it. The Brandywell is always a good place to go and play. It’s a really big pitch so it suits good footballers and there’ll be a lot of them on the pitch on Friday.
"Derry are unbeaten in their opening four. They’ll be riding the crest of a wave at the minute but our confidence is also high after the last two results. It’ll be a good sort of measuring stick for where we are at, where our individuals are at and collectively where we’re at.
"There are a lot of links between the clubs and there’s a really good sort of relationship there. Myself and Ruaidhri (Higgins) are really big friends and a lot of the lads who are here are friends with some of the players who moved to Derry but that goes out the window once the match starts. You become friends again on Saturday, and hopefully, you have bragging rights.
"We have an amazing record at the Brandywell which I wasn’t really aware of until recent days but, ultimately, it’s not going to count for anything come Friday night. You don’t win games on your historic record of the previous 10 years. It’s about what’s happening here and now and what’s in front of us."
Johannes Yli-Kokko and Daniel Kelly are back in contention for Dundalk after missing the win over Shelbourne on Monday while Alfie Lewis, Robbie McCourt and Robbie Benson are also pushing for a start.
Paul Doyle and Louie Annesley are doubtful while John Mountney (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
"Relax and focus" has been the message from Hoops boss Stephen Bradley going into this clash.
The 4-4 draw with Cork left Bradley scratching his head but he has come away determined to bounce back.
Bradley said: "It was the strangest game I've been involved in. It was 4-4 and it could have been 6-6 or we could have won 8-6, it was one of those type of games. A really strange game with lots of opportunities for both teams that you don’t get very often.
"The goals conceded are disappointing because we know that we have top players. They’re top defenders and they had an off night. It just happened that three together had an off night, which is very unusual. We made basic errors which we don’t normally do. It’s very unlike us but hopefully, that’s it now out of the system and we’ve no more nights like that."
Ronan Finn is set to be the only absentee with Roberto Lopes back from a ban.
Bradley is keen for his players to focus on the game and not their points tally: "If you only look at results you can obviously understand why people would be frustrated and I understand that.
"All of us wanted more points than we have right now but the performances as a whole – taking away our defensive display on Monday – have been good. We just need to not lose sight of that, relax and focus. Trust what we do and what we've done the last few years.
"The players worked extremely hard on Monday and we’re going to need that again on Friday. Add that bit of quality and we’re not too far away."
The home side have been hit by injuries early in the season.
Shane Griffin is not expected to be involved in this week's game as he continues to rehab a muscular issue. Sean Boyd remains sidelined and is due an operation on his injury and will likely not return until late April.
Matty Smith, Luke Byrne and Shane Farrell started on the bench in Dundalk and are all likely to be involved.
Damien Duff is wary of the wounded champions: "Top teams go one, two, three games without a win, they become very dangerous. I guess they can feel frustrated and hard done by some of their results so far but listen we can say the same thing.
"We've lost games we deserved to win, and same with Drogheda opening night, we deserved to win. We know that frustration of not getting the results the performances are due
"We want to bring a winning mindset to the club, we're not about finding solace in narrow defeats after a good performance, we won’t be content with competing.
"Performances are great and they usually go hand in hand with points. It hasn't happened for us yet, but we’re confident that will flip. We do have high expectations. Performances have to turn into points."
St Patrick's Athletic v Bohemians, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
St Pat's won three of the four league meetings with Bohs last year and they'd certainly love to follow it up on the first clash of 2023.
Tim Clancy has been blunt in saying things were downbeat in Dublin 8 after their loss in Sligo and that a "massive reaction" is needed.
Clancy stated: "Last weekend wasn't ideal so we are looking for a massive reaction in what is a big game against Bohs.
"The mood is the squad was down a little bit after last weekend but we are trying to keep them positive, we know we need a better performance and a better result against Bohemians, they've started the season really well, it's going to be a tough game but it's a good one for us to react in, and hopefully we'll get back onto a positive run.
"The supporters are right to be disappointed with the performances in the last two games and the results, but this is an opportunity for us at a sold out Richmond Park to get them back enjoying football again and a good result would go a long way towards doing that."
Goalkeeper Danny Rogers (dislocated / fractured thumb), Harry Brockbank (calf) and Adam Murphy (achilles) will all miss the game, Rogers and Brockbank will both be out for a number of weeks while Murphy is nearing a return to full fitness, he has returned to light training.
Things are better for Bohs on the injury front with Dylan Connolly their only man out due and that is due to a two-game ban.
Declan Devine has issued a note of caution on where he feels Bohs are at despite their second-place league position.
He said: "I am delighted with how the team has settled in but we have to strive to get better. There is no point in me saying we have arrived – we definitely can and must get better.
"We are all working hard to improve further, and we know that we will need our best performance of the season to go and win on Friday night. We need the highest level of performance from everybody – right throughout the squad.
"St Pat's have some seriously talented players. They are very capable, especially in front of a packed home crowd. We have got to be up for that. We have to be ready to meet that challenge head on. We have to make sure we defend properly and that we attack with purpose."
UCD v Drogheda United, UCD Bowl, 7.45pm
Drogheda were very much in the game despite the 3-1 scoreline against Bohs in Dalymount Park last Monday.
Their near-dominant performance against Sligo Rovers three days earlier showed they have improved on last year despite having less resources.
Freddie Draper scored his first goal since joining on loan from Lincoln City.
Kevin Doherty was not downbeat from their first loss of the year to Bohs: "We just move on from Monday. It wasn't the end of the world and Bohs are a really good side.
"It would be nice (to bounce back with a win) here. We're four games into the season and we've still had a good start. We go on to Friday looking to get something. We're looking forward to it."
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
