Sligo Rovers and Derry City will meet in a bottom of the table clash at The Showgrounds with both sides looking to kick-start their respective seasons.
Both sides are sitting side by side in the unenviable positions of ninth and tenth in the table with Derry propping up the division by virtue of less goals scored.
With one win and one draw from their opening five games, tonight's encounter offers either side a chance to move upwards, while the defeated team will really have to take measures to ensure they are not cast adrift at this early stage.
Sligo enjoy a decent record over their visitors in recent years – unbeaten in six league games – and will be looking to build on that building momentum which has seen them take four points from their last two games, including a fine result when they turned Shamrock Rovers over at the Showgrounds.
And they will be looking for that fervent home support again to push them on in this northwest derby against a Derry side full of quality that just has not got started yet this campaign.
Sligo boss John Russell will be without Wilson Waweru and the suspended Conor Reynolds, who serves the first of a two-game ban having been sent off in the drawn game with Cork City at Turner's Cross.
Otherwise Russell has a full squad to choose from with Jake Doyle-Hayes expected to return to the fold having missed the game on Leeside for personal reasons.
"We know how tough it will be and what kind of test Derry will offer", said Russell.
"They have had a difficult start to the season, are in a hugely false position and we need to expect a backlash as they will be coming to Sligo looking for a win.
"They have invested in their squad heavily over the winter and have huge strength in all positions. They also have players with international experience and there is no way a squad of their depth will be stuck in their current situation for much longer. We have to be at our best to deal with them."
Cameron Dummigan remains sidelined for City, while Pat Hoban is one of a couple of players carrying niggles, although manager, Tiernan Lynch, is hopeful of having a fairly full-strength panel to choose from.
"I'm told the last win there was in 2022, but that run of results is in the past and certainly hasn't played any part in how we've prepared for this game," said Lynch.
"Sligo have been playing well to be fair to them, and they've beaten Shamrock Rovers which was a really big win. They're a team that scores goals so we have to find a way to deal with that threat and try to cause them problems at the other end.
"We have been creating plenty of chances ourselves in recent weeks and what we have to do is look to start turning those chances into goals.
"As I've said before, we have a clear plan in mind and it's a process that will take time. We haven't been focused on league positions this week, but on trying to improve from match to match.
"There is an awful lot of hard work going on and we're getting to watch these boys every day in training. You can feel it bubbling and you're thinking we're not far away.
"We played some excellent football against Galway United last week and we'll look to build on that on Saturday night and try to be a bit more clinical."
