Shamrock Rovers could move to the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division for the first time this season as their rivals clash at Dalymount Park.
The Hoops make the short trip to UCD where they will be expected to pick up three points against the struggling Students.
College have shown signs of improvement and still have Cork City in their sights, sitting on six points from their 14 matches.
It's a major ask to expect anything tonight against the Hoops who have registered seven wins and a draw from their last eight games, including a routine 3-0 in Tallaght against tonight’s opponent.
The more intriguing fixture comes on the other side of the capital as current leading side Bohemians welcome Derry City.
Just three points separates the teams ahead of the fixture. City saw out victory in Drogheda last time out while Bohs will take solace in their performance in Tallaght despite the 2-1 defeat.
A Dean Williams penalty proved the difference in the Ryan McBride Brandywell meeting. Derry had been tipped to be the most consistent challenger to Shamrock Rovers for the title and this fixture will test that theory after some shaky results in recent weeks.
Dundalk have put their woes behind them with manager Stephen O’Donnell hailing their display in Sligo as the most rounded of the year so far last week.
Four defeats in a row has been followed by 11 points out of 15 to move back inside the top four.
The Lilywhites welcome managerless Cork City to Oriel Park later. Sporting director Liam Buckley, academy director Liam Kearney and Richie Holland continue to take interim charge of the Rebels as the search for a new boss goes on.
The trio saw a spirited display last week in a 3-2 loss to St Pat's. Buckley believes City can get out of their relegation strife when a new man comes in. He’ll be keen to give a more favourable position than the current picture as the top seven begin to pull away.
Another side looking for a new boss is Pat’s but Jon Daly started life as number one in good style last week.
He continues his audition with the visit of Drogheda to Inchicore. Pat’s were 3-1 winners the last time the teams met and will be fancied to repeat the trick.
Bohemians v Derry City, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Derry City have been handed a major boost with Mark Connolly and Cameron Dummigan on the verge of a return.
There is still no news on what injury Colm Whelan suffered earlier in the month against Shamrock Rovers, if any, while Patrick McEleney is also closing on a comeback.
City's fine form on the road continued last week in Drogheda so there will be no complaints travelling to Dublin this week.
"It’s a place that has been good to us in the past, but we’re obviously starting from scratch on Friday" assistant boss Paddy McLaughlin said.
"It’s a good surface and always a great atmosphere and with them at the top of the league there’ll be a big crowd as well.
"Our lads have trained really well again this week and on the back of a big win at Drogheda you can tell they’re looking forward to Friday night.
Connolly and Dummigan have trained this week but City will be cautious with them as they will McEleney.
Ciaron Harkin is the only definite absentee.
The Candystripes are wary of a Bohs side hurting from another derby loss as they come up against old boss Declan Devine again.
"They’re a very good side and obviously we know how good their manager is.
"We know all about Declan’s passion and his ability as a coach, but this isn’t about us against Declan Devine and it won’t be about that for him either to be fair.
"We’re going there to try to build on the win in Drogheda and to try to take another three points this weekend."
Ali Coote, who has seen training and game-time since returning from a thigh injury curtailed due to a bug, has played a full part in training this week so could start.
James Akintunde (hamstring) remains out, while Jordan Flores and Jay Benn are doubts.
UCD v Shamrock Rovers, UCD Bowl, 7.45pm
Shamrock Rovers have won the last 13 league meetings between the sides.
A decade has passed since they last took a point against the Hoops and the task is only getting harder.
Manager Stephen Bradley does sees improvement in the basement boys.
"If you look at their recent games, they've been tight. They have some really good young players and they'll be honest; they'll work hard and have a lot of energy.
"So, you've got to respect that. They lost narrowly last week so we'll know they'll have no fear and they'll come to play. We've got to be ready for that.
"If you don't respect any team in his league, you'll get beaten. It's the same three points on offer tomorrow as there were last week, and next week so we'll give UCD all the respect they deserve, and we'll be fully focused on our performance in the game."
Sean Kavanagh and Sean Gannon return from injury. Dylan Watts won't return for at least a month.
A sold out Tallaght Stadium witnesses Bradley's men beat Bohs last week as they quickly reel in their rivals.
The occasion and display meant a lot to the manager.
"It was a brilliant night for the club in terms of the sold-out Tallaght and obviously the result. I think the players performed really well off the back of a heavy week.
"Parts of the game were really, really good, Bohs had one or two spells but in general I thought we were very good."
Dundalk v Cork City, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm
These sides fought many titanic battles over the years and now face off for the first time in three seasons.
Changes have been aplenty - and even recently with many new faces in the Lilywhites squad and a managerial vacancy for the visitors.
Stephen O'Donnell is wary of coming up against Liam Buckley.
He said: "Colin Healy was a part of that Cork team that we had so many battles against in the past and he obviously left his position as Cork City manager last week. I always enjoyed coming up against him as a player and as a manager and I'm on the pro-Licence course with him now so I was very disappointed to see him go.
"We’re probably facing a little bit of the unknown on Friday. Liam Buckley came in and took over as interim manager last week and Cork were very competitive against St Patrick’s Athletic last Friday night but it’s hard to gauge what sort of team they’ll play against us or what way they’ll set up.
"We’ll have to react in-game if need be but it’s a match we’re looking forward to."
Cameron Elliott and Daniel Kelly have enjoyed a full week of training after returning to the squad for the win over Sligo Rovers but Andy Boyle, Greg Sloggett, Louie Annesley, Robbie Benson and John Mountney are still unavailable.
From a position nearing crisis, Dundalk have risen up the table even again and could gain ground on their fellow European competitors tonight.
O'Donnell added: "We've won our last three on the spin, we’re unbeaten in five, and we’re full of confidence.
"During the sticky spell we had, I always felt it was important for us to hang in there and nobody has built up an unassailable lead. Results around the league are so hard to predict and I don’t think that’s going to change over the season."
St Patrick's Athletic v Drogheda United, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
St Pat's have two away Dublin derbies next week so they'll be eager to put more points on the board while in the comforts of Dublin 8
United boss Kevin Doherty has not beaten the Saints since taking over - the only side he has yet to taste victory against.
In previous games he was facing his former colleague Tim Clancy but tonight Jon Daly is in the dugout.
Daly said: "To come out on the right side of a five-goal thriller at Turner's Cross last week was fantastic and I thought the win was well warranted, I thought we played fantastically well.
"It was great for Adam Murphy coming on to get his first professional goal and for Conor Carty to score his first for the club too to get off the Mark and Jake had a great finish too.
"We've quickly turned our attention towards Drogheda and we've been training towards that all week, if we can play to the levels we know we can hit then we give ourselves the best chance of winning the game."
Joe Redmond (hamstring) faces "a couple of months" on the sidelines following surgery last month.
Danny Rogers (thumb) has returned to training while Tom Grivosti (hamstring) and Harry Brockbank (calf) could be back in the squad for Friday's game.
Axel Sjoberg (knock) missed the match in Cork last Friday but is pushing for a return.
Eoin Doyle will serve the second of his two game ban after his red card against Sligo Rovers
United have not issued a team news bulletin.
