The conclusion of the international break quickly leads into the seventh series of fixtures in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division as title-chasing Derry City visit Tolka Park in the live game on RTÉ2.
City have made a good start to the season yet will also feel disappointed at their last two home results, particularly in a patchy performance against Sligo Rovers.
As Shamrock Rovers continues to stutter, Derry could have really turned up the pressure on the champions, but two draws against Dundalk and Sligo did little to do so.
Nevertheless, this year's league is proving to be ultra-competitive outside of UCD.
Shels will provide Derry with another stringent test, buoyed by a professional display in Cork last time out which took them into the top half of the table.
Duff’s side have conceded just three goals in six matches and their home record is particularly strong, holding Shamrock Rovers and inflicting the only defeat for Bohemians so far this season.
Away from the televised game, Shamrock Rovers will seek their first league win six weeks into the season with another tricky away trip.
Dundalk, like Shels, hold very strong home form, dismantling St Patrick’s Athletic as part of 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four games.
Stephen Bradley has continually tried to give a calm exterior to this surprise beginning of the season.
Tonight’s match, coupled with the first Dublin derby against a Bohemians side currently 10 points superior, will go a long way to deciding if this has been a blip or if it will really turn into a time of crisis.
The Hoops have dominated the league for three years, so it is unfamiliar territory, and they will need to be at their best in these matches.
Johnny Kenny bagged the winner for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s against Iceland last week in what will provide the Sligoman with a boost of confidence.
The Lilywhites will be pleased with their current spot and a win would put an even more positive outlook on their season.
It would have been a long two weeks for St Patrick’s Athletic boss Tim Clancy had Jake Mulraney not popped up an equaliser in Tallaght Stadum.
The debut of goalkeeper Dean Lyness was also a success and that was also vital given their struggles in the area so far this year.
The Saints must build on that point which stopped a three-match run of losses when UCD visit tonight.
Remarkably this game is a clash of the bottom-two. The Students were fancied to be here but they certainly didn’t expect the Saints and Shamrock Rovers to be directly above them late in March.
The widening gap to more realistic rivals is a major concern with the possibility of Andy Myler’s side being cast adrift.
Most, if not all pundits, fancy College to be into the automatic relegation spot come November.
The relegation play-off is a different story. Cork City face Drogheda United in Turner’s Cross later with both teams looking to avoid that destiny.
Results have shown they are certainly capable and it’s anyone guess at the moment.
They come into this game on the back of a loss before the international break with City looking to exterminate the three-points different between them at the moment.
Kick-off in all matches is 7.45pm.
Shelbourne v Derry City, Tolka Park, 7.45pmx
Derry meet Shels for the first time since their Cup final demolition of the Tolka Park outfit last November, but they are expecting a very different game in Drumcondra this weekend.
The 2023 season ha started reasonably for Damien Duff's side, with a win at home to table toppers Bohemians the pick of their results
Derry's Assistant manager Alan Reynolds insisted that the visitors are braced for a testing evening on Dublin's northside
"They're always really well organised and are a very difficult team to play against, especially at home," he said.
"We know Friday night will be exactly the same and while we're glad to get back playing again, we'll have to be at our best if we're to give ourselves a chance of winning."
City's injury list probably meant that the recent break came at a good time, however the Waterford man is circumspect ahead of the game, noting that Mark Connolly remains the only player definitively ruled out.
"We've said recently that a few of the injured lads were getting close to a return and that's very much the case now.
"We know we're going to be missing Mark Connolly, but him apart, the rest of the squad is in, or near to being in contention at this stage."
"As Ruaidhri has said, the lads who have come in have done a fantastic job. We're very happy with the options we have and that quality in the squad will stand us in good stead in a long season."
It's the beginning of an intense sequence of games for the 2023 runners-up, with home games against Drogheda United and Bohemians before an away trip to Oriel Park.
Damien Duff was full of praise for tonight's opponents, and expects them to push all the way for the title.
"Top team Derry, they've footballing greats in their team, some proper players, some of the top talent in the League of Ireland. That quality isn’t easy to match; they can affect and win games, and that’s what we saw in the FAI Cup final.
"Look, Bohs have got off to a great start. Derry will be title contenders, the gap between Rovers and Derry is closing, I’ve said before I still think Rovers are the team, leading the way in Ireland.
"Derry are right up there, I’ve huge respect for their manager Ruaidhrí Higgins, he’s a great guy and I’ve a lot of admiration for him and the job he’s doing."
JJ Lunney, Mark Coyle, Paddy Barrett, and Jad Hakiki and Kian Leavy all return for Shels, while Conor Kane and Sean Boyd remain on the long term injured list.
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers, Oriel Park, 7.45pm
Dundalk could finish the night nine points clear of Shamrock Rovers, with the sides set to meet at Oriel Park.
Incredibly, the Hoops are still without a win after six games, and they head to a ground where they haven't tasted league victory since September 2020.
Dunalk manager Stephen O'Donnell isn't taking Rovers lightly despite their poor start to 2023.
"It's the perfect fixture to come back from the international break to. You always look out for the games against the top teams and Rovers are champions and obviously going for four in a row. It’ll be a brilliant atmosphere at Oriel and we’re really looking forward to it.
"People have asked me about potentially moving nine points ahead of them if we win but I don’t read too much into that. It’d be different if you had totally honed it down to it being a two-horse race between us and them, right from the get-go, and you had the luxury of saying there were only two teams in with a chance of winning the league, but that’s not the case."
Hayden Muller is available for Dundalk, despite his red card in Leinster Senior Cup defeat to Shelbourne last Friday but Paul Doyle and Louie Annesley are doubtful while John Mountney is a long-term absentee.
Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley says that the pitch at Oriel Park can make playing there a bit of a lottery.
"They've been in very good form, had some really good results and they’re sitting in a good position in the league so we know it’s going to be a tough game. It always is in Dundalk.
"The pitch is a complete leveller in that regard, it makes for a different game. They’ve started well and they’re playing well so it’ll be a difficult game."
Roberto Lopez is a doubt having played two full match for Cape Verde against Eswatini during the international break.
Ronan Finn, Dylan Watts and Markus Poom are fit, but Simon Power is still on the mend.
St Patrick's Athletic v UCD, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
St Patrick's Athletic would not have expected their first clash of the season with UCD to be a meeting of the league's bottom sides and this is a game they can't afford to lose.
Pressure remains on manager Tim Clancy, who serves a one-match touchline ban, but the fans remains very much behind the team despite their poor start, as evidenced by two of the three stands at Richmond Park already sold out.
A 2-2 draw against Shamrock Rovers last time out was a timely boost for the Saints and a win against the Students could be the result that kickstarts their season.
While the Saints are the favourites against the league's basement side, assistant Manager Jon Daly is taking nothing for granted.
He said: "I've watched all of UCD's game since the start of the season, they are bottom of the table without a win so far but they play good football, they've got lots of talented young players and in their squad and their definitely pose a threat.
"They are a fit team and are fierce competitors as we saw in the matches against them last season. We'll be giving them the respect they are due but we need to make sure we go out and do what we want to do.
"We have to make sure that we are at it from the start and play our own game, we want to start the game fast and try to get on top."
Jamie Lennon returns from suspension but Danny Rogers (thumb), Tom Grivosti (hamstring), Harry Brockbank (calf) are all unavailable for the game.
Jay McGrath, Sam Curtis, Tommy Lonergan and Adam Murphy have all returned to training following international duty.
Cork City v Drogheda United, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm
Cork City welcome Drogheda to Turner's Cross and while it's probably still too early to call this a 'must-win' game for the Rebels, it's absolutely a 'most not lose'.
With just one win from their opening six games, City are somehow in seventh place as the atrocious form or Shamrock Rover and St Patrick's Athletic keeps them out of the relegation places.
While UCD look to be favourites for that automatic relegation spot, the play-off place remains up for grabs and both Cork and Drogheda are in the conversation to finish ninth. A win for either side would be a big boost their their early season hopes.
Defeat for Cork would see a five point gap open up between themselves and the Drogs and with early season optimism among supporters appearing to fade in their recent 2-0 to Shels' another home defeat could see the atmosphere turn sour.
Daniel Krezic missed out on selection for that defeat to Shels and will hope to return to the starting line-up tonight to add some energy to their attacking line.
Drogheda, for their part, will be eager to make up for the manner of their defeat in the Louth derby last time out.
Dominant from start to finish against Dundalk, Drogheda fell victim to a smash and grab result as Conor Malley's goal against the run of play and a penalty save from Nathan Shepperd saw the Drogs go down 1-0.
Goals have proven to be Drogheda's biggest problem so far this season and with just four from their opening six games, they're going to have to find an answer in front of goal if they're to avoid a long season battling the drop.
Watch Shelbourne v Derry City in the League of Ireland live on Friday from 7.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
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