The LOI mid-season break only lasts a week, yet it feels like a moment to take stock for nearly every club.
How do you assess the Premier Division?
Shelbourne and Derry City are in a prime position.
The success of the north Dublin side may come as a suprise, but the Candystripes have been in this spot before.
Shamrock Rovers are further behind than ever before.
Then come the promoted teams Waterford and Galway United exceeding the natural expectation of trying to stay up and aiming for Europe.
St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians will feel they should be in the mix, although their overall form hasn't matched it.
Dundalk, Sligo Rovers and Drogheda United battle to stay out of the bottom two.
It's very clear there will be a lot of positional change in the remaining four months of the season and expectations may go out the window.
And the categories the teams fit into may change.
Shelbourne v Galway United, Tolka Park, 7.45p
Shelbourne will be wary of a seasoned Galway United side despite the westerners' collective lack of experience in the top flight.
Damien Duff has made a rare admission that United may be a step ahead in one department.
Duff said ahead of the game: "The break came at a good time, obviously Paddy Barrett and Sean Boyd missed out for the Waterford game.
"They're back fit. The only person to miss the game on Friday will be Mark Coyle, who’s suspended for one game, thankfully just the one. Aside from that, we’re all fit and raring to go."
The teams have shared 1-0 victories so far this season which has led to Duff valuing their opponents so highly.
However, a game in mid-summer may suit his own team more, or so he feels.
"I think it’ll be different to the games that came before. The pitch certainly wasn’t in great shape back then in Tolka. I think Galway have surprised a lot of teams this year. So you would think they’re not going to come to Tolka and surprise us.
"We know it’s a bloody tough task. Like I’ve said every year here, I always believe that we’ll evolve and get better through the year. Are we a better team from when was it, last March? Absolutely.
"It’s not me underestimating Galway at all. For us to beat them at home and create chances and score goals, we’ll have to be at our best."
Ali Coote and Sam Bone are ineligible until next week.
"Ali’s been in since Saturday. He was really eager to come in. Really, really impressive today in training.
"He looked like a class act. The exciting thing for us is he probably can still get a lot fitter. What do I mean by that? I think this league is totally different.
"It’s unique and it’s certainly different to maybe where he’s come from. Intensity-wise, what he’s been used to. So I’ve no doubt we’ll get a few more gears out of Ali.
"Which is bloody exciting. Again, brilliant session this morning. I have to say Ali was a standout."
United await new signing Bobby Burns to be eligible, he won't be available this week.
St Patrick's Athletic v Bohemians, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
These sides are in the bottom half of the table and it's fair to say they did not expect to be scrambling around where they are, particularly at this point in the season.
The transfer window has been a point of change for Stephen Kenny with several players departing and old faces returning in Joseph Anang and Ross Tierney.
Again, all new players must wait for 1 July so the old guard will feature most.
The pressure is on Bohs in terms of points total, although the complexities of the league fixturing means the Gypsies have played four more games.
Saints boss Stephen Kenny admits there is no time to waste.
"It was an important win for the team against Shamrock Rovers. It was a real squad effort, with Ruairi Keating coming on and getting a terrific equaliser and Brandon Kavanagh coming off the bench to get a big winner in the 95th minute.
"The week off was as we had planned it. We've been back this week, and one Dublin derby leads into another with Bohemians on Friday. It's an important game for both teams and we want to make sure we are ready. It's a big few weeks for us.
"The game I think will be a much better game of football (than the last meeting).There's a lot of skilful players on both teams and we have to try and utilise that to our advantage to get the victory that we need."
Ryan McLaughlin is unavailable but Anto Breslin returns.
Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers , The Showgrounds, 7.45pm
It'll be a poignant occasion for Sligo Rovers after the death of one their most well-known fans Tommie Gorman.
While their official tribute will be held for next Thursday's match against Derry, there will still be a sombre mood in The Showgrounds.
Shamrock Rovers are in a position where they can't waste anything in terms of results.
Head coach Stephen Bradley said: "Winning is not easy. When you've been successful as these players have been for a number of years, some people can become complacent or slightly arrogant with it. We know in here how hard it is to win, it’s difficult to win.
"Can we still win this year? I’ve no doubt in my mind that we can. I believe what this group has, what they are, so there’s no doubt we can win. But winning is extremely difficult and just because players have made it easy for so long, trust me it’s not easy. But there’s no doubt in my mind that we can still win the league this year."
Lee Grace, Neil Farrugia, Darragh Burns, Dan Cleary, Seán Kavanagh and Rory Gaffney are out.
All of those players could return next week, however.
Josh Honohan is availble this week.
Sligo manager John Russell is boosted by the return of both Nando Pijnaker and Simon Power.
Pijnaker finds himself back in contention following a rib injury picked up in Inchicore in May.
Power returns to the matchday squad following a groin issue which has seen him miss the last few weeks and could face his former side. John Mahon returned to training this week following an achilles injury but remains unavailable for selection
Dundalk v Waterford FC, Oriel Park, 7.45pm
The Lilywhites gave themselves a more than realistic chance of staying up with victory over Sligo Rovers before the break.
There will be a huge turnover in squad as their loanees such as Zak Johnson return to their parent clubs.
Koen Oostenbrink and Ross Munro are back in contention but Jamie Gullan and Mayowa Animasahun are doubtful while Dara Keane is out. New signing Scott McGill is ineligible until 1 July.
Head coach Jon Daly said: "Waterford are a very good team and they've got some fantastic players. Padraig Amond is a fantastic striker and Maleace Asamoah has done well for them. He’s a real threat for them and on the other side you’ve got Connor Parsons who is a fantastic player.
"Young Ben McCormack, who I had at Pat’s, is playing off the front and he is a very talented player so at the top end of the pitch, they’re a real threat and we’re going to have to be on our game defensively to nullify that.
"From our point of view, there’s a lot to look forward to over the second part of the season. We finished off before the break with a very positive result and a really strong performance against Sligo Rovers. It’s about trying to back that up on Friday now and come out with maximum points and try and start to put a little bit of pressure on a few more teams around about us and get them looking over their shoulder.
"I think it’s really important that the teams above us don’t have that comfort of a gap there between us so if we can go and get a positive result on Friday, at 10pm that night I think the teams that are directly ahead of us will probably be within striking distance of us catching them."
Defender Andy Boyle added: "It would have been a long two weeks if we were sitting looking at the table and we were still bottom. It’s still not where we want to be but the win over Sligo before the break has given us a bit of a platform now to go and kick on.
"We want to pull as many teams in as close as possible to us and a win over Waterford would tighten things up and we have had a great record at Oriel Park, especially with the clean sheets. I think everyone has played their part in it.
"It gives us a platform in games because if you don’t concede, the minimum you can get is a point. I know it’s an old cliché, but we pride ourselves on that. I think celebrating little things like headers and clearances and stuff like that is massive and it goes a long way."
A rare gome defeat was a setback for Waterford. However they responded in style and against the odds.
Reynolds is wary of his counterpart Long: "Dundalk is a very difficult place to go. They haven't conceded a goal in eight games in Oriel Park, so that shows you the size of the task ahead of us tomorrow night.
With the new manager they have in Jon Daly and the quality of players they have, it will be a difficult challenge ahead, but we want to try and restart after the short break with a positive display."
Gbemi Arubi misses out on the trip after picking up a knock against Kerry FC on Monday night. Barry Baggley and Maleace Asamoah remain on the sidelines. Calum Costello comes into the travelling squad for the game.
Derry City v Drogheda United, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
The Candystripes could end the night top of the league if they can overcome a struggling Drogs outfit.
Ruaidhri Higgins' team went into the break with a late win at Bohemians - their third in a row - and will be looking at this one as a big chance to keep the momentum going.
Drogheda have picked up one point from the last six games and have been shorn of Hayden Cann and Oisin Gallagher, who returned to Lincoln City as their loan spells have expired.
However Higgins is wary of the visitors, who have managed to bring in attacker Douglas James-Taylor on a one-year loan from Walsall FC, though he won't be eligible to feature tonight.
"It doesn't seem to matter where or when we play them or where the teams are respectively in the table, they always make things very difficult for us," he said.
"To be honest we're expecting nothing else on Friday night and we've prepared for exactly that.
"We've been playing well recently and we all made the best of the short break and we'll be ready to go."
Derry suffered a transfer blow in the break when defender Cameron McJannet agreed a deal with League Two Grimsby Town.
Former Manchester City academy player Jacob Davenport arrives from Morecambe to boost the Derry midfield. The versatile 25-year-old is also capable of operating in defence.
"There's obviously been a couple of personnel changes already with Cameron McJannet going to Grimsby Town and Jacob Davenport coming in," Higgins added.
"I expect there'll be one or two more over the next few weeks, but obviously we can't register Jacob until 1st July, so we're working off much the same squad as before the break."
