Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers, Weavers Park, 7.45pm
Drogheda United will smell blood as Sligo Rovers visit Weavers Park for the second time in a week tonight.
The game is one of three Premier Division matches which largely focus on the bottom of the table.
United eliminated Sligo from the FAI Cup last week showing much hunger, determination and quality despite trailing to a Max Mata penalty against the run of play at the break.
It compounded what has been a miserable year for the Bit O' Red and they will be fearful of being dragged further into the relegation picture with another loss.
The Cup exit came at a further cost as Danny Lafferty received a six-match ban for his foul on Kyle Robinson and resulting dissent.
He will miss close to two months of football and leaves Sligo with more squad woes as they aim to cope with a number of players unavailable - as they have done all year.
Portuguese striker Pedro Martelo could make his first start tonight with a possible switch to two attackers.
The Bit O' Red are expected to be without the injured quintet of Gary Boylan, Mark Byrne, Reece Hutchinson, Garry Buckley, James Finnerty.
John Russell told the Sligo Champion the squad could use reinforcing before the transfer window closes, but accepted the funds may not be available.
"The window is open until next Friday, in terms of bringing players in, the budget is very tight.
"We're carrying a lot of players with injuries, to be bringing in more players it will be difficult.
"I’m looking at possibly trying to bring in a loan, we’ll know more in the next couple of days."
Cork City v Shelbourne, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm
Cork City know they're entering a crucial bid in the battle to avoid the relegation play-off as Shelbourne visit Turner's Cross tonight.
Defeat in Sligo two weeks ago left them six points behind their opponents and five off Drogheda with 12 matches remaining.
With an away match in Tallaght next week, it’s imperative they don’t lose further ground ahead of a potentially decisive clash with the Drogs later in the month.
Last week’s FAI Cup win over Treaty United will have at least boosted confidence.
City have been a club in mourning after the death of the father of Ruairi Keating with Liam Buckley confirming his star striker will return "when the time is right".
A new goalkeeper could be included in the starting XI after Ollie Byrne - a name synonymous with Shels - joined on loan.
Irish under-21 international Tiernan Brooks joined earlier in the month but was injured on his debut and looks set to be out for longer than originally thought.
As such Byrne has come in and could be come the fifth goalkeeper to play for the Rebels this campaign.
Shels only have the league to concentrate on after exiting the FAI Cup last week and with some big guns out of the competition there is a chance fourth place may not guarantee European football next year.
Manager Damien Duff has allayed fears about centre-back Paddy Barrett's long-term fitness after he was forced off against Bohs in the cup defeat, although he is unlikely to make the visit to Cork.
"Paddy came off last week but he's not too bad and has been back running and out on the pitch, tomorrow might come too soon for him but we expect he’ll be fine for next next," he said, whilst also confirming that Shane Griffin and Matty Smith are both close to a return.
And Duff has been keen not to play down the significance of the Turner's Cross fixture after the early exit from the cup.
"They're young boys, we saw a good response for the most part in training this week, with them, it’s given them a shake and a rattle and get focused on the next game. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves the whole week. Time moves on quickly in football. Leave it behind because the next game is absolutely massive for us and for Cork City."
Bohemians v UCD, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Bohemians go into tonight's clash with UCD in a solid position both in two competitions amid a year of highs and lows so far.
Having seemed to be on course for a guaranteed top four finish thanks to their early season form, the second 'third’ of the season has been far from convincing.
Nevertheless, four points from matches with Dundalk and Shelbourne, and progress against their neighbours in the FAI Cup, has given them a much better outlook.
With a last 16-tie with non-league Rockmount to come next month, home games against UCD and Drogheda represent another big chance for progress up the table.
Manager Declan Devine has warned his team not to take College for granted, particularly as the Gypsies were one of the few teams to drop points to the basement outfit.
Devine said: "Listen, UCD have caused us problems this season. In Dalymount, they took the lead and should have been two ahead before we got a grip of the game.
"We dropped points in Belfield too so we know we need 100% focus from the start. Last week is in the past, nobody is thinking about anything other than UCD.
"We need a high-level performance, nothing less."
Bohs come into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over Shelbourne in the Sports Direct FAI Cup at Dalymount Park.
Devine welcomed another home win last week against Shels and is hoping another will follow.
He said: "I felt a performance like that at home had been coming. There has been an appetite in our performances in Dalymount – we saw it in the way we came from behind to beat Dundalk and coming from behind to draw with Rovers.
"What was important about last week’s game is that we started so strongly. We started with hunger. Our aggression, our intensity and our desire was there right from the start.
"If anything, we should have won by more, and we talked about that this week. We need to be more ruthless in front of goal. We had chances to put the game to bed.
"When we are creating chances, we need to smell blood, and we need to put games to bed.
"So we want to be more ruthless, and I feel with the players coming back from injury and players we have added in this window, that we can do that."
Krystian Nowak (quad) is a doubt. Dean Williams (ankle) has returned to light training but remains out. Luke Dennison (hand) also remains out but is expected to return soon.
Danny Grant is pushing for game-time for the first time since rejoining from Huddersfield. Louie Holzman could also make a debut.
