The Dublin derby meeting of first and second in the table dominates the action tonight in the League of Ireland Premier Division but there will be plenty of eyes on Turner's Cross as well.
A title race involving the fiercest rivals in the league, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians, would bring huge interest as the year goes on. Tonight’s game will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 in front of a sold out Tallaght crowd.
After registering a string of draws early on, the Hoops are beginning to dominate and have moved to second in the table.
Bohs stand in their way, currently with a four-point cushion thanks to nine wins from 13 matches so far.
The previous meeting showed the class of the champions – a 2-0 win in Dalymount – and they registered the same scoreline in Derry last week to make another statement.
The Gyspsies have targeted European football from the outset this year and a tilt for the title seems unlikely.
Nevertheless, victory here would put them in a massive position of control for the European race and allow them dream further.
Morale-sapping defeats and managerial resignations came for Cork City and St Patrick’s Athletic in the last week.
Tim Clancy departed with his assistant Jon Daly taking up for the mantle for tonight and possibly further.
Liam Buckley was appointed sporting director at Cork City with his first task becoming an interim co-manager gig with Liam Kearney following Colin Healy’s exit.
Buckley will help pick a new boss on Leeside. He spoke yesterday about the importance of cool heads and points on the board before he helps pick a new man.
Elsewhere Derry City need a return to winning ways when they face Drogheda United. The Candystripes looked to be building momentum before being outclassed against Shamrock Rovers.
Ruaidhri Higgins admitted that they "didn’t lay a glove" on the champions and there are major concerns Colm Whelan has suffered another ligament injury.
United have not registered three points since the Brandywell clash and have slipped back to eighth place.
They still hold a good lead over Cork but will be conscious of a change in approach down south.
Shelbourne could move back to fourth when UCD visit Tolka Park in the final game of the night.
Damien Duff’s side were under the cosh for large spells in Drogheda so did well to claim a point.
College are putting in improved performances and gave Dundalk a scare. They’ll look at this game as a chance to drag another side back closer to the bottom.
Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians, Tallaght Stadium, 7.45pm
It's all set up for a brilliant occasion in Tallaght in front of the RTÉ cameras.
The challenge is on Bohemians to cope with the near-unbeaten record of the Hoops at home over the last two years.
"Some of the football we have played in the early part of the season has been pleasing. We have gone away from home and dug out clean sheets too," said Bohs manager Declan Devine.
"It is finding that happy medium going out to Tallaght to get a positive performance and a positive result.
"We have come a long way in a short space of time. It is only 20 weeks since we finished sixth last season.
"But there is a lot to learn from the last time we played them. To give away a goal in the 46th minute of the first half was a big blow for us having dealt with the opening 25/30 minutes being on top, creating chances, and being positive in our approach.
"As a new group we have to accept and realise that we are going to have setbacks. But this is another game where we really want to go and perform to our highest levels. We want to win. We have played positively away in other games in difficult venues.
"This is another difficult venue, and we go into this game with our eyes wide open.
"We want to play to the highest level we can. We certainly won't be going there to sit back. We have got to go there and try to attack, and be better defensively than what we were when we played them at home.
James Akintunde is the only absentee for Bohs.
Liam Burt is fit for the Hoops to face his former side. Sean Kavanagh and Sean Gannon are a week away from fitness and Dylan Watts will be available later in the month.
Cork City v St Patrick's Athletic, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm
Jon Daly begins his audition for the permanent St Patrick's Athletic job tonight in Turner's Cross.
The former Rangers strike could be handed the role if he impresses.
Daly said: "It's a fresh start for everyone, there are lads who have probably been out of the picture that might come back in. It's very much up to the players now to put their hand up to play.
"It's obviously never nice when a manager and a friend loses his job, I'm disappointed to see Tim leave but it's football, it's the nature of the beast.
"We have to focus on Friday and make sure the lads are as prepared as they possibly can be, to go down to Cork and hopefully come back up the road with three points and a good performance.Our job is to try and put a team on a pitch that can win."
Captain Joe Redmond remains on the sidelines after hamstring surgery while Eoin Doyle will also miss the match after his red card on Monday.
Daly is hoping that Jamie Lennon (quad) and Thijs Timmermans (ankle) will be available after injuries picked up last weekend, Lennon missed the Sligo match while Timmermans had to go off.
Danny Rogers (thumb), Tom Grivosti (hamstring), Harry Brockbank (calf) remain out.
Ally Gilchrist remains out for Cork. Aaron Bolger is suspended.while Jonas Häkkinenis rated 50/50.
Drogheda United v Derry City, Weaver's Park, 7.45pm
Ruaidhri Higgins has seen a change in mood in his squad this week despite the manner of the loss to Shamrock Rovers.
Consistency has been a major problem for all teams in the league except leaders Bohemians and now the champions.
But Higgins feels his side can turn things.
"It's a strange league so far this year and teams are taking points of each other just about every week.
"Of course the mood was low on Monday night but as the week has gone on there's been a really buoyant and upbeat feel around the squad.
"Drogheda is a very difficult venue to go but we'll look to re-set from a fantastic performance against St Pats at the weekend and go there to try to win three points.
The City manager also confirmed Colm Whelan has had tests to establish the extent of the problem which provided a major scare last Monday.
"We'll know more once we get the specialist's report, but he'll obviously not be involved this weekend.
"Once again we're working off the same panel as for last week's games (minus Colm) but despite still having a few players out I'm confident that if we play well, we have a side capable of winning the game."
Patrick McEleney and Cameron Dummigan remain out.
Shelbourne v UCD, Tolka Park. 7.45pm
Damien Duff has warned his players not to repeat the performance against UCD earlier in the season.
A 0-0 draw led to a quiet post-game as Duff didn't speak to his player such was his disappointment.
They've gone on a decent run since and could add to that when College visit.
He said: "Last time we played UCD, it wasn't good enough. We can’t have a repeat of that performance, we all take full responsibility, players, staff, coaches, everyone, we were really poor there.
"I take responsibility for half time and how I spoke to the players, because you could argue they were even worse in the second half than the first.
"But we need to put that behind us now. Our pre-match meeting was focused on that game, we looked at all the poor play from the Bowl, not a great watch, it’s so bad its bewildering.
"I’m hoping that might prod them in some way, watching that game you could forget we’ve top players, wonderfully gifted guys, when they play so poorly, I take responsibility, but they should too and I know that putting that right tomorrow is their only focus.
"If they’ve got pride as a team and squad, they should be looking to put that performance right, because the last time we played UCD, the performance hurt and upset a lot of people."
Mark Coyle is nearing a return for the home side.
Gavin Molloy is back jogging and is set to return before the mid-season and Sean Boyd could follow around that time.
Conor Kane's return is imminent but won't be rushed. Shane Farrell is still suspended.
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Watch Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians in the League of Ireland live on Friday from 7.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on the RTÉ News app or RTÉ.ie/Sport
