It's getting better and better.
The unpredictability of the Premier Division is throwing up so many storylines and dramatic match nights that it is hard to know where to start.
But in this instance, it has to be at the top.
Drogheda United are the early story of the season, using their FAI Cup success as a platform for an unbeaten start to the year.
Their main objective is to avoid relegation. With 11 points accumulated, it's logical to think they have already achieved a quarter of the points total needed to do so.
Perhaps they will be changing expectations if tonight's game goes their way.
Shamrock Rovers make the short journey north as they look to build on an encouraging, and needed, victory last week.
Stephen Bradley was adamant the Hoops would click into gear and they come here knowing it's the chance to lay down another marker.
Elsewhere Shelbourne need to bounce back after hitting their own sticky patch.
Damien Duff's side had all of the ball last week, yet couldn't break down the opposition.
Duff has hit out at "gifts" and "nonsense" concessions as well, having prided themselves on cleen sheets.
Cork City visit Tolka Park this evening in what will likely be a similar approach to Drogheda's. It will be fascinating to see how Shels respond.
City were dominant themselves last week as they came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with 10-man Sligo Rovers.
They peppered the Sligo goal and at least came away with the point. This will be a whole lot more difficult.
There's a Dublin derby clash of St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians at Richmond Park.
The Gypsies were in dire need of a victory and they did it in style against Waterford.
They look to follow it up against Stephen Kenny's Saints.
Two defeats in five is not the ideal opening for Pat's, yet this looks like a title race that will result in plenty of dropped points over the season.
The final game of the night see two teams performing above expectations clash at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Galway United meet Waterford FC as fourth place meets second.
If there is a winner of this clash, they will be thrilled with their start to the season.
The Blues were well beaten by Bohs, though they have already shown they can bounce back from a home loss.
United are racking up the draws early on in the year, it would be no surprise if this fixture went that way as well.
Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers, Sullivan & Lambe Park, 7.45pm
Stephen Bradley is adamant Drogheda United deserve to be leading the way as the Hoops travel to a venue they have found notoriously difficult.
Last season they did secure 1-0 and 2-0 victories, but perhaps it's going to be even tougher this year given the early form lines.
There was relief in Tallaght as the Hoops earned a first league success of the season over St Patrick’s Athletic.
Now they have the chance to reel in the early leader.
Bradley said: "Drogheda have been excellent. They’re top of the league for a reason. They’re not there by fluke or luck, they deserve to be there.
"I’ve watched all their games and they’ve been very good, Kevin has them really well organised. They carry a real attacking threat, so we know we’re in for a difficult game in Drogheda.
"If you look at the past 12 months, they’ve scored up to 25 goals from setpieces, so they’re obviously very strong in that area of the pitch. That’s an area we’ve got to make sure we really focus on, and give Drogheda that respect.
"But in general, they’ve been really good and as I said, they’re not top of the league by luck, they’re there on merit. They’ve had difficult games and came through them all. So, it’s a difficult game for us tonight."
Danny Mandroiu and Lee Grace are the only absentees tonight as their injury list has quickly cleared.
Kevin Doherty has tried to play down the significance of the fixture, instead wanting to treat it as just like any other, despite their league position.
He told the Drogheda Independent: "It’s better to be up the top than at the bottom, there’s a bit of fun involved and that sort of stuff and it’s a long time since the club were in that position, but it’s five games in," he said, speaking on Monday.
"It’s nice to look at the table, but we don’t pay any heed to it. All it shows is that despite having a few kicks and a few knocks we have played well. We’re happy with the way things have gone so far, but there’s an awful long way to go and it’s so competitive. You could find yourself at a completely different end of the table after another couple of games."
Douglas James-Taylor, Elicha Ahui, Josh Thomas, James Bolger and Paul Doyle remain out for United, making their results so far even more taking.
St Patrick's Athletic v Bohemians, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
Of all the teams lining out tonight, it's tricky to know what to expect of these Dublin rivals.
The Saints undoubtedly have the squad to be in the shake up come the end of the year and with Aidan Keena firing in goals, particularly at Richmond Park, they should improve as the year goes on.
The game is one of the hottest tickets of the year with the sold out signs up a long time ago.
Over 5,000 will be in attendance and many more would be present if they could.
Stephen Kenny did not see too much wrong with the Pat’s display in losing to Shamrock Rovers.
He sees tonight’s game as a good chance to respond.
The former Republic of Ireland boss stated: "Having had marginally the better chances, we lost a pretty even game 1-0.
"Before that, we had two good home wins the previous weekend on the Friday and Monday so we have to raise our game again against a Bohemians team that had a very good win in Waterford.
"It's a fantastic game, a Dublin derby. Our games at Richmond Park so far this season have had a brilliant atmosphere, the supporters are really behind the players."
There is mixed news on the injury front for the home side.
Defender Sean Hoare returns to the matchday squad after injury and is in line to make his second league debut. He has yet to feature since joining in the off-season.
Midfielder Romal Palmer underwent surgery on a hamstring injury last weekend and will face an unspecified period on the sidelines.
The sounds are it will be for a considerable length of time
Kenny said: "Romal has worked extremely hard to get himself into really good condition over the pre-season and opening weeks of the campaign, this injury is a set back for him but it's one he has the capacity to overcome and be back as soon as he can."
For Bohs, Alan Reynolds knows it can't be a short-term solution and they must back up their result at the RSC.
"We looked more organised against Waterford than we had done in the previous games, and the players had a much greater understanding of one another," he claimed.
"The challenge for us now is to maintain and sustain that, and get better still.
"We are working extremely hard - the work ethic of the group is excellent - but that needs to continue to translate to performances on the pitch."
Rob Cornwall and Alex Lacey are ruled out, while Lys Mousset and Dayle Rooney are doubts.
Shelbourne v Cork City, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
Shelbourne have been hit by a bug in their camp ahead of the fixture with Cork City.
Damien Duff does not not know what players will be available to him.
Duff said: "We're down bodies, I won’t give a list but there’s been a bad virus in the group. The lads haven’t trained properly, in and out, and haven’t been able to do much. We’d usually do our walkthrough today, but couldn’t.
"We’ll name an XI at 6pm on Friday based on who is actually fit and sitting in front of us in the meeting room and ready to play at that point.
"Cork are a very dangerous team, we referenced them a lot in meetings. There’s a lot of quality in the First Division, and they back themselves to play, cut through, and hurt teams. They’ve done that. Ruairi Keating, Alex Nolan and Malik Dijksteel look really good. They can punish teams. Any hint of disrespect, and we’ll soon find out the hard way."
Cork boss Tim Clancy rued only taking a point against Sligo Rovers last week.
He is expecting a tough encounter: "It was a little bit frustrating against Sligo. Some of the decisions went against us. To come back from a goal down, and push to try to get a winner, I thought it was a briliant performance.
"We're going up against the league champions so it won't be easy
"Shelbourne have a tremendously good squad, they brought in players that have really strengthened them so we will have to be at our absolute best to get a result."
One issue of concern for Clancy is Greg Bolger and Sean Maguire are expected to be absent for a few weeks with the injuries they picked up in Waterford.
Clancy revealed: "Greg and Sean will miss a bit of time with muscle injuries. It's really frustrating for us because we've had a ridiculous run of injuries.
"We had a tight enough squad and if you saw the bench on Friday, everyone outfield was an Under-20.
"We are down numbers but that is why Friday's result was excellent. We have a decent squad and we'll crack on Friday."
Galway United v Waterford, Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm
Galway United and Waterford battled out the First Division title in 2023 with the Tribesmen coming out on top with relative ease.
Since that time they have been on similar paths, establishing a place in the top-flight with some astute recruitment.
John Caulfield and Keith Long have built up enormous experience of the league in the last decade. With the 2025 season likely to be decided by fine margins, their knowledge could prove crucial over the coming months.
United are unbeaten so far this campaign, picking up the baton from where they left off last year, with some exceptions.
Goals have been a much more regular occurence, at both ends, so a clean sheet here will be the major focus for Caulfield.
Three 1-1 draws. the 2-2 on the opening night in Cork and the 2-1 victory over St Patrick's Athletic puts them in a strong position.
Brendan Clarke, Jimm Keohane, David Hurley, Stephen Walsh and Greg Cunningham were all missing last week in Derry.
Galway keep their cards close to their chest so the prognosis on the players remains somewhat unknown.
The Blues sit in second place despite the heavy loss to Bohemians last week.
Matty Smith (knee) remains absent for the visitors. Otherwise they have no fresh injury concerns.
Trae Coyle has returned to training this week after recovering from his hamstring injury. This game may come too soon for a start.
Keith Long has said his side must be ready for the battle with the Tribesmen: "We know what to expect from Galway. They've got some really good players. They’re well drilled and well organised, and John has them playing in a certain way that is really effective.
"We will go up there with the right mindset & attittude, and be ready to go win the duels and play how we can."
