There was a slew of significant results in last week's league and FAI Cup schedule.
At the top of the table, Shamrock Rovers survived their biggest test of the run-in when a late Graham Burke spot-kick secured a point at Derry City.
The Hoops were minutes away from seeing their biggest rivals reduce the lead to a single point.
The penalty and red card for Shane McEleney could be defining moments in the season and tonight brings a huge chance for Stephen Bradley's men to put one hand on the title.
The champions are in UCD to face a College side set for relegation if they fail to take three points.
It has been a trying year for the Students and they will regroup in the second tier next season.
Derry City travel to Sligo for a tricky looking game given the Bit O'Red are themselves battling to avoid the drop.
City have found life against John Russell's side tough this year, losing the reverse fixture and being held in the Brandywell early on in the year.
A win for Shamrock Rovers and a slip-up by Derry could make the closing games quite straightforward in their four-in-a-row quest.
Elsewhere Dundalk are at a low ebb after their cup hammering at Galway United last week. In a quirk of the fixture list they visit the side their manager Stephen O'Donnell left, St Patrick's Athletic, needing to avoid defeat in the race for Europe.
There were harsh words from O'Donnell for his players on a night to forget and they are in danger of seeing their season disintegrate in a matter of weeks.
The Saints are playing their first home game in 42 days and are still in the title mix if they can finish the season with a run of wins.
Shelbourne are in the hunt for Europe but won't have it easy when Cork City come to Tolka Park.
The Rebels, who are into the FAI Cup semis, could find themselves in the Aviva Stadium in November - while also being in the second tier in the league.
They've given themselves a fighting chance and need to make up six points on Sligo.
Drogheda United will not be happy to see Bohemians back at Weaver's Park tonight.
Bohs have won all three league games and knocked United out of the FAI Cup last week.
The Gypsies want to wrap up a Europa Conference League spot through the Premier Division rather than have to rely on the cup, and with two of their rivals clashing in Richmond Park, this could be a night to make strides towards it.
The Drogs are not safe from the relegation play-off position. One win could be enough if it came here.
UCD v Shamrock Rovers, UCD Bowl
Shamrock Rovers knew the signficance of avoiding defeat in Derry last week.
But they are not treating the clash with hapless UCD as a formality.
College are likely to be put out of their misery after being outclassed throughout the season.
Home wins over Cork City and Sligo Rovers have been high points. But that was as good as it got.
Visiting manager Stephen Bradley reflected on the Derry game: "The good thing about this group is they understand when we've hit our levels and when we haven’t. Last Friday in the dressing room the players knew that the first half wasn’t good enough.
"It’s up to us as staff to relay why it wasn’t good enough and fix it, but the players are experienced enough and when you’re in this group of players and you’ve performed at the level you’ve performed, you’ll know the first half wasn’t us.
"They knew themselves and it was up to us as staff to make them understand why and how it was happening and make sure we improved in the second half, and I thought we were excellent second half. We took control second half, Derry had one or two moments but in the main, we took control of the game."
Looking ahead to tonight's game in Belfield, Bradley added: "The surface is usually decent, and I was at the Derry game there recently and it looked good. But that's irrelevant, our aim is to go there, perform and win the game.
"We know we need to focus and to respect UCD. It’s the same three points that were on offer last week in Derry or against Bohs or Dundalk. Nothing changes in our mindset."
Johnny Kenny remains out for this game. Jack Byrne is also unavailable due to injury.
Sligo Rovers v Derry City, The Showgrounds, 7.45pm
Derry City are likely to need a near-perfect finish to the season to topple Shamrock Rovers, starting in Sligo.
Ruaidhri Higgins has suggested his side probably need to win all six of their remaining matches if they were to have any chance of taking the title race down to the wire.
They are looking to avenge a 1-0 defeat in Sligo here - a night which they may look back on as one of the games in which they failed to find their rhythm - and why they may come off second best.
Higgins is very much taking the approach of at least trying to put pressure on first place.
"We have to find a way of going there and picking up three points, and having lost in Sligo earlier in the season, it will be far from easy" he said.
"We've been playing really welll over the past few months and as I said after the Rovers game, I thought we the better side again last Friday night.
"It was very frustrating to concede in the manner we did, but there's more football to be played and we move on.
"The Showgrounds has been a difficult venue for Derry City down through the years.
"Sligo always seem to raise their game when we come to town but we have to be ready for that. We have to be switched on from the start-in and out of possession- and give ourselves the best possible chance to win the game.
"It's out of our hands now but we will just focus on the things we can control and see where that takes us."
The Candystripes will be without Shane McEleney following his red card last week, but are otherwise expected to have the same squad available for this Friday.
Sligo lifted some of the strain on their club last after a miserable losing run without a goal, beating UCD.
Russell said: "It's brilliant to have another home game. It was a positive night last week getting the three points.
""I thought we were fully deserving of the win last week, it was great to get two goals, it could have had a couple more and we kept a clean sheet. We want to build on that. It was a different type of performance from us and I was happy with it overall.
"The games against Derry have been very close. They’re a really good side of course and we’ve done well against them this year, albeit we could have got more out of the games.
"We’ll bring a game plan into Friday and we come into it with the confidence from last week.
Mark Byrne, Gary Boylan and Will Fitzgerald remain out with long-term injuries.
St Patrick's Athletic v Dundalk, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
St Patrick's Athletic have a game in hand to play on Monday so it isn't beyond the realms of possiblility that they could still have a hand in the title.
In truth Jon Daly will be more concerned with a European finish and the FAI Cup to come.
It hasn't been convincing from Pat's in recent game. They stuttered to a 2-1 win in Ballybofey last week against Finn Harps.
However the Saints have had an excellent domestic record in recent months, with 11 wins, three draws and just two losses in their last 16 games.
Daly knows there is a big finish to come: "There is a lot of football coming, a lot of excitement and meaningful games that will hopefully put us in the positions that we want to be in. When you come to the business end of the season, you want to be in the hunt for things.
"Our home form has been very good and that's obviously down to the fans as well. The way they support the group will be something we hope to use on Friday.
"It's up to us to give them something to get behind. We're very much looking forward to getting back out there and trying to get three points."
Tom Grivosti (knee) is out. Jay McGrath is suspended having been sent off in our last league game against Shelbourne. Sam Curtis served a one match ban for the FAI Cup win over Finn Harps and is available for selection.
Tonight will not be easy for a Dundalk side reeling from the capitulation in Galway.
O'Donnell has not shied away from the loss.
"We deserve every bit of stick that has come our way after last Friday," he said. "It was fully justified, and we must take it on the chin.
"I have absolutely no issues with that. We're Dundalk Football Club, in a cup quarter-final and that performance, obviously headed by me, was unacceptable.
"Everyone’s going to be looking for a reaction. Our character’s being called into question, our personality, our professionalism, but sometimes you’ve got to embrace it, roll with the punches, enjoy the adversity and see how you come out of it.
"There’s a balance to things. You’ve got to reflect and you’ve got to speak about what happened. We went through it and even though it’s blatantly obvious, we made it known that it’s unacceptable.
Keith Ward is back in contention after recovering from a knee injury but Louie Annesley and Andy Boyle are still missing.
Shelbourne v Cork City, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
Shelbourne are back in action after sitting out FAI Cup weekend and now face a busy period, with Damien Duff feeling the stakes haven't been higher in the last two decades.
"The players have grown emotionally and in their personality over the season, you can see that in the games they don't feel sorry for themselves, they don't feel nervous, this run in now, seven games to go, you’re going to get kicks, knockbacks, it’s about how you respond before the end of season.
"Without a doubt it’s as big a week as the club has had in 20 years. Speaking to people around the club, I’ve heard that and I love hearing stuff like that.
"The heart and soul is well and truly back in Tolka, the place is bouncing. These are special times, yes it’s the biggest week we’ve had as a group, but it’s not a time to be nervous. Savour it."
They have just one loss in their last 13 games in the league with Europe in their sights.
Duff feels that run of important wins and good performances will really help their confidence:
"People know me well enough now I'm a bit deadpan, I’m usually the same anyway, good or bad result, I’m very confident going to games regardless of previous games, or form or setbacks, the lads are high as kites, they believe they can beat anyone.
"A lot of that comes from the manner of beating Pats, we were relentless and the lads got a well deserved win over title contenders, one loss in 13 is a great stat sure, but the motivation and levels we showed against Pats, that’s as big a confidence boost as you can get."
Sean Boyd, Kameron Ledwidge and Matty Smith are nearing fitness but remain out. Brian McManus is back.
Drogheda United v Bohemians, Weavers Park, 7.45pm
Declan Devine has warned Bohemians to be wary of complacency after their win in Drogheda last week.
A goal from Krystian Nowak and a brace from Johnny Afolabi delivered a 3-1 win seven days ago.
Devine said: "I was happy last week with our performance but I wasn't ecstatic as I thought we had opportunities to put the game to bed earlier than we did. I was also disappointed that we conceded just after half-time even though not in a million years did I think it was a penalty.
"The main purpose of last week was to get into the next round of the cup and that was achieved. We moved the ball in difficult conditions quite well, and created a number of great opportunities. But I am looking for us to be better this week in both boxes.
"We defended well, but felt we could have had the game controlled a wee bit better. There are definitely things we can learn from last week, and things we need to do better. That has to be the aim for us going there again."
Devine added: "We spoke on Saturday morning then about a refocus and their attitude, honesty and intensity all week has been outstanding.
"Every player and every member of staff knows the importance of the next game. We are at a stage of the season where every point and every three points is critical. We have got to go up to Drogheda again and give an even better performance than what we did last week.
"We still have a couple of gears that we can go up. We have to make sure now that we are relentless in our pursuit of points, wanting more and driving on between now and the end of the season.
Paddy Kirk (ankle) and Bart Kukulowicz (knee) are doubts while Dean Williams (ankle) made his long-awaited return off the bench on Monday.
