The Sports Direct FAI Cup quarter-finals all take place tonight as several of the top Premier Division outfits and some First Division sides pursue a last four spot.
At this stage of the competition there can often be talk a league and cup double, but with the top two sides already eliminated, and facing off in the league tonight, focus is more on the race for Europe.
This year's FAI Cup brings a even greater prize this year as the winner will go into the second round of Europa Conference League qualifying, rather than the first.
It means a better chance of reaching the group stage and a guaranteed prize haul of €450,000.
Bohemians, St Patrick’s Athletic and Dundalk are currently vying for a top three finish knowing they can reach Europe that way.
Shelbourne, out of the competition, are also in the mix, and if it a top three side were to win the FAI Cup, fourth place would mean Europe.
The draw left all of the remaining big guns apart.
The only all-Premier Division match sees Bohemians face a tricky assignment away to Drogheda.
The Gyspies have won all three matches so far in the league. However a great season so far has seen the Boynesiders move to the brink of safety and they can go all-in on this FAI Cup clash.
Another side with pressure off is Galway United.
Their magnificent First Division season will see them return to the top flight in 2024.
Tonight a packed Eamonn Deacy Park will welcome Dundalk and their Galwegian manager Stephen O’Donnell.
The Lilywhites face a big battle to reach Europe again through the league.
There is major pedigree having won the competition 12 times - two of which came under Stephen Kenny - while O'Donnell has also lifted the trophy as a manager with St Patrick's Athletic in 2021.
Cork City have not had a happy year, yet could find themselves in a semi-final if they can overcome Wexford.
Last week's thumping of Sligo Rovers has lifted the mood at Turner's Cross and made avoiding the play-off very much a realistic possibility.
Wexford are in the play-off spots in the First Division, and a win here would cap off a fine year so far for James Keddy's men.
St Pat's face the long trip to Ballybofey to take on a struggling Finn Harps.
The Saints have seen their title hopes fade, but having already seen off Derry City, they are dreaming of a place in the Aviva Stadium in November.
Galway United v Dundalk, Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm
It's only a matter of weeks before Galway United return to the big time; they'll get a taste of it tonight.
It's arguably the tie of the round where United test themselves against one of the most successful clubs of the last decade.
For Dundalk, this is a banana skin after some disappointing results, albeit against Derry City and Shamrock Rovers.
Manager Stephen O'Donnell is excited to be facing his native county: "I know from the messages I've been getting since the draw was made that there’s a buzz around the city and they’re riding the crest of a wave.
"I think the League of Ireland needs a club like Galway United. It’s a massive club, they play in a good venue, they have good support and it’s good for the league to have a balance and a spread where the whole country is represented.
"It can only be a good thing when there’s a team from a city like Galway getting back up to the Premier Division but I’d like to be leaving Eamonn Deacy Park with the locals disappointed and us preparing for an FAI Cup semi-final."
John Martin and Ryan O'Kane are back in the squad after missing the game with Derry City two weeks ago but Louie Annesley, Andy Boyle and Keith Ward are out.
John Caulfield believes it will be a special occasion for his players.
"We're looking forward to the game, Dundalk are a major force to reckon with.
"We haven’t lost a league game at home this year, so we go into the game with confidence but we know what they (Dundalk) can bring. It’ll be a great game in front of a full house and we’re looking forward to it."
Drogheda United v Bohemians, Weaver's Park, 7.45pm
Declan Devine has said that Bohemians must not let the opportunity to make a long-awaited breakthrough slip through their hands ahead of the game in Drogheda.
Bohs have made considerable progress off-the-field and qualified for Europe under Keith Long.
Devine is hoping to at least match that feat this year – and winning the cup would tick both boxes.
He said: "The FAI Cup doesn't suffer fools, so we have to be bang at it right from the very start. The players have been really looking forward to the game.
"Going to Drogheda is a tough place but we are going there concentrating on ourselves. We know their strengths having played them three times already but we also know our own strengths and we have concentrated on them all week.
"There is a big prize on offer for whoever wins the game, so having had two weeks since our last game, this is one that we have really prepared well for.
"At the start of the year, your goal is to get to the latter stages of the FAI Cup, and it doesn’t matter what the draw is, doing that will always be very difficult.
"Drogheda will fancy their chances and we will fancy our chances, but we have to make sure we perform to the levels we are capable of.
"This tie will be decided on the night, there are no second chances. We have got to make sure we grasp our opportunity, that we don’t have any regrets, and that we take care of our business."
Bohs go in tomorrow’s game with another packed-out away section; all 650 tickets were sold to members within 10 minutes of going on sale last Friday.
Devine has not played down the significance of the clash ahead of the closing matches in the league.
"That is a massive carrot for everyone at the club. It is hugely important. Every single one of us – players, staff and fans – has to give everything of ourselves as by hook or by crook, we want to be in the next round.
"We have the utmost respect for Drogheda, but we are very determined in where we want this group and our club to be."
Paddy Kirk (ankle) is a doubt.
Dean Williams (ankle) is unlikely to feature.
Cork City v Wexford FC, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm
Not much has gone Cork City's way this year, yet the FAI Cup has given them moments of relief in the heat of battle.
The Rebels were paired with two First Division sides in the previous round and once again face a side from that league tonight.
City deserve credit for dispatching their opponents with some ease so far as Treaty United and Waterford were held scoreless in the concession of two and three goals respectively.
It has been a different story in the Premier Division.
Nevertheless the hat-trick for Ruairi Keating last week against Sligo has Liam Buckley and his players not only thinking of escape, but potential cup glory with it.
Many thought Wexford would struggle with the departure of Ian Ryan.
They've faired very well in the league and must finish the job to get a play-off berth.
James Keddy's men have yet to face a League of Ireland side in this competition after overcoming Avondale and St Patrick's CY.
This will be a different ball game, but certainly one they can take all the way.
Finn Harps v St Patrick's Athletic, 8pm
Finn Harps are trying to build a squad to compete for promotion under new boss Dave Rogers and a run to the FAI Cup quarter-finals will be most welcome after a disappointing year.
Having come down from the Premier Division, it was expected Harps would at least challenge for a play-off position.
That hasn't materialised, so the cup has given them a chance to garner extra finances, with a home tie against St Patrick's Athletic is sure to draw a big crowd to Finn Park.
The Saints have played every round away from home so far.
Pat's manager Jon Daly said: "It's a cup tie so league form goes out the window. It's up in their place so they'll be really happy with that.
"As we've found out in recent years, it's a difficult place to go, so we'll need to be on our game and be mindful of what they can do.
"We'll need to be fully concentrated and fully at it to give ourselves the best possible opportunity to go through.
"Knocking Derry City out in the last round was great, obviously we did it the hard way by going to penalties.
"Everyone in the FAI Cup now will fancy their chances on any given day, but it's about what we do and how we approach the game.
"It's important for us to play at the tempo that we like to play at and that we don't let them control the game. It's about taking opportunities when they present themselves."
