It's the third meeting of the season between the age-old rivals and it's live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Shamrock Rovers are eyeing a hat-trick of wins against Bohemians, who will be looking to get back on track after a couple of disappointing performances.
After a wobble where they lost to Cork City and Drogheda United, the Hoops have turned things around with wins over Dundalk, Sligo Rovers and UCD before the mid-season break, scoring nine goals in the process.
They lead the standings on 42 points, eight clear of Bohemians in fourth, who have played a game less. Declan Devine's side will be keen to keep on the coattails of the Hoops and in the process maintain their push for European football.
Derry City play host to Cork City and are seeking a first win in five. The Candystripes will be without Patrick McEleney and Cameron Dummigan, while Michael Duffy is a doubt. Against Bohs the last day, the Candystripes failed to create any meaningful chances, though they did have strong claims for a penalty late on. There is a lot of frustration on Foyleside and Derry's home form continues to be a concern.
Cork's form has picked up in recent weeks as they look to climb up the table. Before the break they conceded late on against Dundalk, so ending a run of four wins on the spin.
Third place St Pat's Athletic welcome Shelbourne to Richmond Park. Jon Daly's enjoyed a good start to life in the Pat's hotseat - his team had won six of seven matches, only losing narrowly to Shamrock Rovers. Then came that loss away to Drogheda before the break - Darragh Markey's 94th-minute winner breaking their hearts.
Shels reserve goalkeeper Scott van der Sluis has left the club after entering the Love Island house. Damien Duff has wished him well and so life move on for the Tolka Park outfit, who occupy a mid-table position. Can they now kick on and push for a European spot?
The Louth derby sees Drogheda United at home to Dundalk. Both clubs had last-gasp wins before the break, with the Drogs leapfroging Cork and Sligo in their quest to stay clear of the relegation play-off spot. Dundalk, courtesy of John Martin's late headed goal, saw them deservedly get the three points away to Cork.
UCD remain rooted at the basement, with just six points to show from their 20 games so far. Sligo Rovers are the visitors to the Bowl. The Bit O' Red picked up a valuable point at Shels a fortnight ago and will be hoping that their injury woes ease over the next few weeks. The Showgrounds faithful don't want to be involved in the relegation play-off discussion.
Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm (Live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player)
Declan Devine has challenged Bohemians to be greedy when they host their fiercest rivals.
The international break afforded his players some time off but they have knuckled down since returning last weekend and are relishing the prospect of the Dublin derby,.
Devine said: "The players have put a lot in since they first came in on the 28 December, so it was a welcome break for them on the back of leaving the Brandywell with a positive point and a positive performance. It was a good time to give them a good five days off.
"Everyone has been back in and at it since last weekend. They are fresh and really focused.
"We have had a good conversation about where we want to get to between now and the end of the season.
"As a group we are very open with one another about what we want to achieve. We want to push on from where we are. The players have really taken to how we want to go about our jobs.
"In the first half of the season, we left some points behind us but we have to push on from that.
"We are sitting in a decent position. All the teams around us have all played a game more than us. So we have to understand that we are a game behind, and we have to stay in touching distance with all those clubs who are in Europe.
"Our players are relishing that challenge. We have to take care of our own business, that's the bottom line.
"Any player at a club the size of Bohemians should be looking at those European draws this week and making sure that we are in the hat next season and for the foreseeable future."
In team news, Dean Williams (ankle) remains out while Jay Benn's loan has ended and he has returned to Lincoln City.
Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley spoke was pleased with the positive response following the losses to Cork and Drogheda.
"I think we spoke enough about the two defeats. We all understand the reasons why we lost both games and I felt we were still in a good place. We just needed to refocus and to be fair to the players, they've done that and we'd three important wins so I think it was important to get back to winning ways before the break."
The manager also had news regarding the fitness of Alan Mannus and Aaron Green.
"Alan's splint has been taken off his finger so he's now basically just on the rehab stage of getting ready to play, which is a real positive.
"Aaron Greene thankfully wasn't a break, just badly bruised ligaments but I imagine another week and he'll be back. It's good news on both because Aaron's, we feared the worst and when you see Aaron he doesn't usually come off or anything like that, so hopefully he's okay."
And on facing Bohs for the third time in as many months, Bradley added: "It's going to be a difficult game, we know that. I said every time we played them that they have good players and that hasn't changed so we know we've got to go and respect them but then impose ourselves on the game as soon as possible, and play to our levels and our standards."
Derry City v Cork City, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
Ruaidhrí Higgins was talking up Cork ahead of this clash.
"They lost to Dundalk just before the break but they'd won four on the spin before that including against both Bohs and Shamrock Rovers," he said.
"It's a tough game but we have to look to start positively and we have to show the right attitude."
On the injuries to Patrick McEleney, Cameron Dummigan and Michael Duffy, the manager added: "They're obviously quality players but whatever happens, we'll have a team on the pitch that is capable of winning the game."
With an away game against Shamrock Rovers on Monday, a Europa Conference League tie against HB Tórshavn in a few weeks time and the FAI Cup thereafter, there is much for the Brandywell faithful to look forward to.
Higgins is therefore hoping for an upturn.
"It's an exciting time for supporters at the minute - we've had the European draw this week and the start of the FAI cup coming up as well - so there's plenty of interest around," he said.
"The fans were brilliant in our last game (against Bohs) and the atmosphere gave the players a lift as we pressed for a winner.
"I hope they'll give us the same sort of backing on Friday night as we look to start the second half of the season on a positive note."
Drogheda United v Dundalk, Weavers Park, 7.45pm
Dundalk are also facing into a hectic period. The clash at Weaver's Park marks the start of a four-game block that will also see Dundalk play St Pat’s, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians before the first leg against Bruno's Magpies of Gibraltar in the UEFA Europa Conference League opening qualifying round on 13 July.
The clash at Weaver’s Park marks the start of a four-game period that will also see Dundalk play St Patrick’s Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians before the first-leg tie in Gibraltar on 13 July and Shepperd said it was important that the players weren't distracted by what lay ahead.
"It’s exciting," said Shepperd. "We all watched the draw live on Tuesday and we’re looking forward to it. It's a bit mad because it's only the Premier League back home that gets European football but it’s here for us and that’s great.
"Europe has obviously been the focus for a lot of people this week but we aren’t looking past Friday’s game with Drogheda," he said.
Dundalk went into the mid-season break buoyed by wins over UCD and Cork City, a return that sees them sitting fifth in a very congested SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table, but the Drogs also finished on a high, beating an in-form St Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 in their final outing before the interval.
"It’s always a tough game at Weaver’s Park," said Dundalk head coach Stephen O’Donnell. "When we beat them up there early in the season, they played very well and they were unlucky to lose.
"We’re aware of the challenge that’s ahead of us but we went into the break on the back of two of our best performances of the season and we’re looking forward to it."
O’Donnell has a fully fit squad at his disposal.
St Pat's Athletic v Shelbourne, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
It's the start of a busy few weeks for St Pat's, with four league games to come in the next fortnight as well as the beginning of their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign and an FAI Cup first-round tie.
They won six games out of their last eight before the mid-season break and will be keen to regain some momentum against a dogged Shels.
Pat's are third, seven points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers and just a point adrift of Derry City.
Shelbourne are sixth, five points behind tomorrow's opponents but with a game in hand.
"The players have come back from their little break in good spirits," said boss Jon Daly.
"We were disappointed with where we left off against Drogheda before the break, but they've been back in the last few days and have trained well and we're looking forward to getting back into it."
Jake Mulraney returns from suspension but captain Joe Redmond [hamstring] and Tom Grivosti [ACL] are still out.
UCD v Sligo Rovers, UCD Bowl
It's the Bit O'Red's second game on the trot in the capital, having drawn 1-1 at Shelbourne last Friday.
Rovers' most recent win came against Derry at the end of May and last year's fifth-place finishers are just two points clear of Cork, who occupy the relegation play-off place.
Bottom side UCD have just six points from their 20 fixtures to date and have conceded 18 goals in their last five games, including a 4-0 loss at the champions last week.
