After an opening week with packed stadiums the League of Ireland continues with two Dublin derbies that bring plenty of intrigue.
A total of 23,824 attended Premier Division matches last week with another 10,000 at First Division games.
With Tallaght Stadium and Turner's Cross not featuring this week, those numbers will drop, but sold out signs will be up around the country.
Shelbourne have reported their quickest sellout in nearly two decades with Shamrock Rovers making the trip to Tolka Park.
St Patrick's Athletic host Bohemians at another sold out venue in Richmond Park while Drogheda United are also at capacity when newly-promoted Waterford visit.
The final game of the night sees Dundalk looking for revenge from a painful FAI Cup loss last year as Galway United visit Oriel.
Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
Damien Duff has told his players to seize the day as the Shels boss looks for a first career win over Shamrock Rovers as a senior manager.
Both sides played out 1-1 draws last week with improvements desired after failing to reach their high standard.
Duff's side have been accused of being too defensive when facing some of the top guns in the league.
However he does not feel that is the case.
He said: "I think questions like that you’re best asking the players what we work on during the week, some people have a picture of us sitting up in a low black all week, everything we do is with the ball, looking after the ball, dominating it, if we lose it, get it back quick as possible.
"If you don’t look after it you will defend, outside of that, it’s not how the staff coach the team.
"Organically it might happen because Rovers can keep the ball for 10, 20, 30 passes, you’re naturally at times going to have to defend. Stuff like that doesn’t bother me, it’s not true I know what we’re about, I know what we are."
With a ticket impossible to get, the Republic of Ireland great discussed the feeling of a big game under the lights in north Dublin.
"Well I can try and sell it all you want, you don't believe it till your here and see it and feel with your own eyes, it’s an energy, it’s a community, it’s a sense of identity, it’s when a lot of people around Ireland feel alive, it’s Friday night 7:45pm, be it a fan, staff or a player, people are living for Tolka Park, a big match night.
"If you can’t already tell, I can’t wait. It’s the best part of the week for me and the staff, I see comments in the press, certain managers in the league, 'oh I dread Friday’, I won’t name them, but I can’t understand that mentality. It’s the best part of the week, hands down, no disputing it, it’s when you feel most alive."
The Hoops will be looking to earn their first victory of the season but Stephen Bradley knows it will be a battle for his team.
"Shelbourne are always really well set up and really well organised. You expect that when you see Damien and the staff he has there.
"When you add in the real quality that they have at the top end of the pitch, they showed last season they're a dangerous team for anyone in the league.
"It’s their first home game so their fans will be up for it, so we have to be ready for that and respect that and when the time comes we impose ourselves on the game. But we know we’re going into a difficult game."
Shane Griffin misses out through injury for the home side while loanee Liam Burt is ineligible against his parent club.
Trevor Clarke will miss three weeks with a calf problem. Neil Farrugia is awaiting more news on his shoulder injury to determine how long he will sit out.
Richie Towell and Graham Burke and Johnny Kenny are available. Jack Byrne should return next week.
St Patrick's Athletic v Bohemians, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
St Patrick's Athletic showed their mettle in tough conditions in Galway after a feeble showing in the President's Cup.
The Saints grabbed an early goal and repelled United on a wet night with the pitch not helping proceedings.
It gives Pat's a good platform for their first all-Dublin clash of the season.
Jon Daly is expecting the same approach to last year from Bohs, even if they have had plenty of turnover in squad.
He stated: "I think Bohs will be similar to last year in the sense that they're very good in transitions.
"They've obviously lost Jonathan Afolabi and replaced him with Sten Reinkort, who looks like he can finish and hold the ball up.
"I think it's going to be a tough game, and the atmosphere is going to be through the roof. It's going to be a good one to be involved in and one we're very much looking forward to."
Bohs have recruited four new players in the last 24 hours - a sign that it took patience to complete their squad for the new season as well as their struggles in defence.
The Gyspies needed a late goal from James Clarke to rescue a point against Sligo Rovers, and Rob Cornwall's injury made the night so much worse.
The new signings could lift Bohs going into this game.
Dundalk v Galway United, Oriel Park, 7.45pm
It didn't take long for Dundalk to click into gear with their impressive draw in Tallaght last week.
Stephen O'Donnell will see this game as a big opportunity to continue an unbeaten start as Galway visit.
The Lilywhites were all at sea in the FAI Cup quarter-final last year - a game which saw O'Donnell have a scathing assessment of his team in the aftermath.
O'Donnell, looking ahead to the game, pinpointed the threats of United: "We know that Galway are going to be very physical, very fit and very well organised, in and out of possession, and they will be a big threat at set-pieces.
"They beat us well in the FAI Cup quarter-final last season so they’ll be quite confident coming up here.
"From our point of view, it’s still very early regarding our understanding of each other and how long the group’s been together.
"I was very happy with our set-up against Shamrock Rovers last week. The layer we want to add to that is the more intricate things and being in control when we have possession.
"There’s been a mood of optimism around the town this week and hopefully, there’s a big crowd at Oriel on Friday night.
Dutch midfielder Koen Oostenbrink misses out with injury.
Stephen Walsh begins a three-match ban for Galway for his record card last week while Garry Buckley and Wassim Aouachria are also big absentees.
United boss John Caulfield said: "We're looking forward to going to Oriel Park. Stephen O’Donnell has built a very good team, very quickly.
"We know how difficult Dundalk can be, but we’re looking to build on last week’s performance."
Drogheda United v Waterford FC, Head in the Game Park, 7.45pm
Waterford made two deadline-day signings to boost their squad after a good first night of the season last week.
Harvey Macadam joins on loan from sister-club Fleetwood Town while Crewe Alexandra striker Connor Evans also moved to the RSC.
Maleace Asamoah's goal was the high point of the draw with Shelbourne and put the Blues on the board early on as they adapt to life back in the top flight.
Both these sides could be in the reckoning for the drop come the end of the year, so this early encounter may shed light on their prospects over the rest of the campaign.
Waterford boss Keith Long said: "It's going to be a tough challenge up in Drogheda on Friday, but I feel we’ve prepared well and the lads have trained well. We travel in good spirits, and we hope to back up last week’s positive display with a strong team performance.
"Drogheda away is always a difficult challenge. They are a well organised team with an exciting blend of young, talented players coupled with players that have extensive LOI experience. So it will be a tough game for us but also a great opportunity to try and improve on last week’s display."
After missing out on last week's league opener, Christie Pattison, Cameron Cresswell and Rowan McDonald all returned to training this week so all available for selection against Drogheda.
There are no other injury concerns for Long’s side.
Drogheda were very much in the game in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium with a missed penalty in the narrow 2-1 defeat.
This is a much more realistic prospect for points and they'll be backed by a sold out home end from 7.45pm.
