A Shamrock Rovers side taking a grip on the Premier Division title race go to Derry tonight looking to move even further clear at the top of the table.
The Hoops have produced four wins in 14 days while the teams around them have floundered, leaving champions Shelbourne facing an uphill task and putting expected challengers St Patrick's Athletic to the sword last Monday.
Derry have certainly made a mark this year, although questions remains if they can put in a sustained tilt at coming out on top come November.
City boss Tiernan Lynch is welcoming the big nature of the game, with one of the biggest crowds in modern times expected, with the opening of the north stand earlier this year.
Lynch said: "This is where we want to be. We want to be up challenging and be around the top end of the table.
"Obviously it's very early in the season and we know there's a long way to go but these are the games you want to be involved in and I think the players that we've brought into the club now that they'll be relishing in games like this."
Ronan Boyce is a doubt for City due to injury. Carl Winchester returns after serving a ban.
Lynch is hoping the packed Brandywell can work in their favour: "I've been saying this now for a number of weeks. The importance of our crowd, especially at home, whether they realise it or not, is they're our 12th man. And there's so many occasions we need them during games when maybe things aren't going our way or we're under the cosh a little bit.
"That's not just Rovers, that's in every game. And when they get behind us and they get off their feet and they're loud and it makes a massive difference to the players and it gives them that little extra incentive to go and not let them down."
Bradley has said the pitch in Derry will not be a major hindrance for his side.
"It’s not ideal. I don’t think anyone will tell you they want to play on that kind of pitch. I’d imagine Derry would be the same. But the one thing that balances that off is the pitch size.
"We like that type of pitch, we always enjoy playing on it, although they are always tough games. But we enjoy it and are looking forward to it.
"Similar to St Pat's, if you look at their attacking players, they have as good as anyone in the country. We know they have attacking threats on the pitch so we need to be ready for that. But we also know we’re in a good place, so we’ll be going there to hurt them and impose ourselves on the game and ultimately win the game.
Lee Grace is a doubt but otherwise the visitors have everyone available.
Damien Duff has admitted Shelbourne look like they are playing with "the weight of the world on our shoulders" as Sligo Rovers visit Tolka Park.
The Reds boss has been in philosophical mood as he ponders what has led to such a poor run of form.
Shels and Sligo share a form line in that they both have just three victories from their last 15 matches.
Nevertheless this will be seen as a chance for Duff’s side to respond to their poor run.
Discussing the visible lack of confidence from his player, Duff wondered: "Why is that? Is it the position in the table, or is it the pressure we’ve created ourselves? There’s definitely a weight on their shoulders, and carrying that doesn’t help.
"It’s about releasing the shackles, maybe even playing with a smile on your face over the next two games.
Getting a couple of points on the board now is plain and simple [our only concern].
"We’re not overly worried or getting stressed, but we can’t keep dropping points, especially with these Friday–Monday games. We’ve dropped a lot of needless points, a lot of tight games, previously we would have found something, we’ve come out on the wrong end of them this season."
Sean Gannon missed out through suspension while goalkeeper Conor Kearns is a doubt after coming off with a thigh problem last Monday.
Sean Boyd and Paddy Barrett remains out. Ali Coote and Mark Coyle are back from bans.
The Bit O’ Red did enjoy a turnaround of their own last week by beating Galway United.
Russell wants to put together back-to-back victories for the first time this campaign, with the incentive of knowing it could take them off bottom spot.
He said: "We did really well in Galway but we must follow it up now with another good show in Dublin. I'm repeating myself every week maybe, but we have huge belief in this group of players and they know if they keep working hard and can be consistent in their actions, then they'll be rewarded.
"It doesn't come any tougher now than Shels away. They have strength everywhere and have a big enough squad to probably cover each position twice over. But we'll take confidence from last week's win"
Oskar Van Hattum is out until next week while Ollie Denham is facing another month on the sidelines.
Ronan Manning is a doubt.
Stephen Kenny is facing the biggest crisis in his short tenure as St Patrick’s Athletic ahead of a home clash with Waterford.
Four defeats in their last six is a concern in Dublin 8, with the concession of four goals to Shamrock Rovers indicative of a drop off in performances in recent weeks.
Having slipped to mid-table and seven points off the leaders, a quick reaction is needed from Kenny’s men.
The Saints boss said: "We let ourselves down on Monday losing in the manner that we did, that's the first time that has happened to us to lose in that way, convincingly in the end, so we've got to respond in the right way.
"The seesaw nature of the league and the way it is, two weeks ago we were top of the table after beating Galway, and scored two excellent late goals to beat Cork last Friday. We've had a couple of defeats and we've got to bounce back from Monday and try to get the victory against Waterford."
Midfield injury problems have undoubtedly been an issue, with Romal Palmer’s absence set to now continue in autumn due to a setback.
Chris Forrester [groin] and Kian Leavy [ankle] remain out. Jamie Lennon is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card on Monday night.
Blues manager John Coleman felt his side performed better than their 3-1 loss to Shamrock Rovers last Friday.
"I thought overall our play was quite good last week. I’ve watched the game back a couple times now, and there wasn’t much in the game.
"St Pat’s have their own issues with injuries and suspensions – like what we have – but that all goes out the window when the referee blows the whistle. It’s just two teams trying to win a game.
"They have a good, exciting style of football, like us, so it will lend to being a good game live on TV to allow the Irish public watch two teams both trying to win the game".
Kacper Radkowski, Matty Smith, Trae Coyle and Andy Boyle are out for the visitors.
Ger Nash takes charge of Cork City for the first time as they face Galway United in Eamonn Deacy Park.
Having flirted with top spot, United’s results have taken a turn for a worse.
The loss to Sligo Rovers was a fourth on the spin. As Caulfield takes on the side he won the league and two FAI Cups with, there is a danger of being sucked into the battle at the bottom if the defeats to continue.
City were left devastated by the manner of their defeat in Inchicore last week, with two goals conceded in the closing minutes.
The final game of the night sees third and fourth in the table come head to head as Bohemians make the short trip north to Drogheda.
The Gypsies are looking for revenge for the 1-0 loss to United earlier in the year.
Reynolds said: "This is going to be another really difficult game for us. Drogheda have already beaten us in Dalymount this year so there is nobody under any illusions about how hard we have to work if we are to get a result against them.
"They're an extremely well organised team and very hard to break down so we are going to have to be even more organised, and patient too, if we are to get a result against them.
"I keep on saying that every point we’ve got this season has been extremely hard worked for, and the way the league is this season, we have to keep those standards up and keep pushing ourselves every single time we play."
Alex Lacey (hamstring) remains out but Leigh Kavanagh (hamstring) is back in contention.
