The April and May period is the most hectic in the League of Ireland as another round of matches is here.
The Bank Holiday week programme saw just one side win both matches (Shamrock Rovers) and one lose both (Waterford), giving us a congested looking table outside of the sides at the opposites ends.
Shelbourne remain the outstanding performer in the league – at least in results – as they hold an eight-point lead at the top.
At the other end Dundalk continue to struggle with just three draws from their eight matches.
Tonight's matches bring the first quarter of the campaign to an end.
The clash of Derry City and Dundalk at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium is crucial to how they will feel at this mark.
Derry have gone off the boil with a single point from their last three matches and while they are level on points with Shamrock Rovers, they can’t afford such a dramatic loss in form if they want to be a serious force in the title race.
Dundalk simply need a start. The clean sheet against Drogheda and another point on the board was a small consolation on a frustrating Monday afternoon.
They will come up against many of their former stars in the game, how ironic it would be if this is where their first win came from.
There’s another blockbuster Dublin derby as St Patrick’s Athletic, buoyed by a big win four days ago, welcome the champions Shamrock Rovers to Inchicore.
As expected, the Hoops are beginning a run of victories with their away win in Waterford on Monday a third in as many games.
The match sold out two days ago.
Leaders Shelbourne travel to Drogheda aiming to complete the first round of matches unbeaten and possibly extend their eight-point advantage.
Alan Reynolds will take charge of Bohemians in Dalymount Park against the club he left, Waterford FC.
Reynolds secured a first win last Monday in Galway in a very promising display.
Keith Long will be a man in familiar territory after eight years in Phibsborough. The Blues need to steady the ship after their poor return last week.
Derry City v Dundalk, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
This fixture was marked as the first time Dundalk’s all-time leading scorer Patrick Hoban would face the club he spent so many successful years with.
But the Derry City number nine is set to miss out due to injury. It has been a regular problem for Derry, not just in this season, but ones gone by as well.
Cameron Dummigan and Ben Doherty are at least close to a return and could feature tonight.
City were much more meticulous in their defending and overall performance in taking a point from Tolka Park.
They will be expected to take all three tonight. However Ruaidhrí Higgins has warned his players that the Lilywhites are better than their meagre return thus far.
"Monday night was certainly a big improvement on Friday's display against Galway but we need to take that and look to improve again this weekend" he began.
"I'd say apart from the Sligo game, Dundalk have been well in the rest of their matches so far, and we know they have really good players in their side.
"It's up to us as the home team to get on the front foot from the start and we need to show real commitment to go and try to win the game.
"We have real quality throughout the squad and regardless of any of that we will have a team on the pitch on Friday night who are capable of winning the game.
"We need to give our supporters something to shout about and we'll do everything in our power to get them right behind us this weekend."
Dundalk have only scored away from home this campaign – twice in all – and need a big turnaround here.
They can take heart from Derry’s struggles of one win in five.
Archie Davies is suspended after his red card in the Louth Derby on Monday but Dara Keane and Jamie Walker could play.
There is huge pressure on Stephen O’Donnell, knowing that his previous good record could count for little when the possibility of being cast adrift at the bottom is a live one.
He describes it as a "massive challenge."
O’Donnell continued: "Three points from seven games is obviously not ideal. We’re not happy with that. We know we need to get points on the board, we know we need to start winning matches. That’s the way I’d see it. We’re bottom of the table at this minute in time, and we’re looking to move out of there and move up the table.
"I’m frustrated. I see it as a massive challenge as well.
"It’s an unbelievable challenge for the group of players as well. For a lot of them, this is their first first-team football and it’s Friday-Monday, pressure games, derbies, a lot at stake.
"For the core of our squad, it’s all new to them as well. It’s great experience for them. We’re where we’re at but I also think we have scope to improve. We have to improve, we know that. No way am I settling for where we’re at, obviously not.
"There’s no other way of describing it – it’s a massive challenge."
St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
It was a great weekend for Shamrock Rovers and now they look to continue their recent record against St Pat’s.
A number of injury problems have emerged for the Hoops, however.
Lee Grace will miss this game due to a knock picked up in Waterford. Rory Gaffney (knee) will also sit out until next week. Jack Byrne is set to return later in the month with the champions reluctant to push him into action.
Aaron McEneff is nearing a return and Aaron Greene has overcome a dead leg. Johnny Kenny is a doubt with an abdominal problem.
The problems led to Cian Dillion making a league debut in the RSC last week and their strong squad came to the fore.
The Saints will be another tough away encounter, as Stephen Bradley acknowledges.
"The league has shown already this year that if you’re not at your best, you won’t win games, regardless of who you play, home or away.
"We know a Dublin derby against Pat’s at their home is a difficult game. We also know if we go there with the right mindset and attitude, that we’re more than capable of winning the game. That’s the aim and Pat’s will be a difficult game."
It was a timely win for the Saints last Monday after four defeats in seven prior to the comfortable evening against Sligo Rovers.
Chris Forrester was taken out of the team in a surprise move. The changes worked for the Inchicore outfit and they have plenty of options available for this game.
The sides last met in the President's Cup final in Tallaght in February, with an easy win for the home side.
"We were very happy with the performance against Sligo Rovers, the lads certainly went out and showed what they are capable of.
"That was our third clean sheet in the last four games and we were very bright at the attacking end and could have scored more. We want to try to build on that on Friday and get to get another positive result.
"We want to bring the same energy levels and performance that we did against Sligo.
"We're well aware that (Shamrock) Rovers are a very, very good side, Champions four years in a row for a reason and they've been in good form themselves, it's on us now to try and get a result and get a little run going to continue to climb the table."
Pat’s have not issued a specific injury update ahead of the game. Over 5,000 fans will be present for the sold out fixture.
Bohemians v Waterford, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
It’s a reunion at Dalymount Park tonight as well as a fresh beginning for the Gypsies.
Alan Reynolds has been in the opposition dugout on many occasions but will be in the home end and vice-versa for Keith Long.
Away from that storyline, it’s also a massive game in terms of trajectory.
Even with a change of manager and defeat in his first game, Bohs could find themselves in a tie for second place this evening with the right set of results.
Six points separate eight places in the league so there is no concerns of playing catch-up.
Tramore man Reynolds is looking forward to reuniting with old friends, as well as trying to overcome his home club.
He said: "We both have a job to do and it is important that we do everything we can to push on now and get the win, and I’ve no doubt Keith will be saying the same.
"But it will be a big moment for Keith coming back to Dalymount too, and I hope he gets the good reception he deserves here. He speaks very fondly of the club and has a lot of good memories from his time here.
"For me, I’m managing Bohemians in Dalymount for the first time against my hometown club, which is exciting and something I am relishing personally, even if there might be a few divided loyalties in the family!"
Martin Miller and Bart Kukulowvicz come back into contention, while Filip Piszczek is rated doubtful.
But Bohs will be without Adam McDonnell and Dylan Connolly as well as long-term absentees Keith Buckley and Rob Cornwall.
The Blues will be without Cameron Cresswell (thigh) and Barry Baggley (back).
The two losses over the weekend has seen the Blues drop to eighth in the table.
After a strong start they will hope to bounce back and finish the series on a high.
Drogheda United v Shelbourne, Weavers Park, 7.45pm
The league leaders face another test as they travel to take on ninth-place Drogheda United.
Damien Duff welcomed their draw with Derry City on Monday as one of the best results of his tenure due a sickness bug in the camp.
With Shamrock Rovers moving closer to Shels, matches such as these are imperative.
Duff feels United will prove very difficult to beat and has highlighted their strengths in front of goal in particular.
"Games against Drogheda home or away are always tight. We know that, more often than not, it's at home where they are at their best.
"Difficult place to come to Weavers Park, they are a well set up team and they have a good manager and a lot of talented players.
"They always are very good and they frustrate you at times but they have the absolute quality to hurt you at the top end, (Frantz) Pierrot and (Zishim) Bawa are technically excellent, (Warren) Davis off the side got a lot of ability, (Darragh) Markey we know what he can bring, then (Adam) Foley.
"Lads shouldn't need to be warned about his talent, just look at the two goals in November. It’s an amazingly difficult task. One I can’t wait for."
Duff has also revealed that the illness in the Shels camp is still a concern.
"The bug is still floating around, some boys had it on their days off, and came through OK, we had a few players miss training on Thursday, it's a 24-hour thing, so we’ll know closer to kick off what shape we’re in.
"Aside from illness, which has caused some problems we’ve no other injury concerns."
United show their own battling qualities to survive a portion of the Louth derby with 10-men after Luke Heeney was sent off.
Heeney will sit out this game as Drogheda aim for a second win of the campaign.
