In the midst of a hectic time for Irish clubs in Europe, three matches with plenty at stake take place in the Premier Division this evening concerning issues at the top and bottom of the table.
Bohemians and Derry City are considered the only realistic challengers to Shamrock Rovers for the league title and meet at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in their final game-in-hand on the leaders.
The advantage at the top is eight points, with Derry a point worse off going into the fixture after their loss in The Showgrounds.
Realistically, any loser in this game will find it difficult to reel in the Hoops, and perhaps the same can be said if it finishes level.
City will visit Tallaght Stadium next week, so there is a real chance to put together victories to create a title race.
Failing to do so could lead to the trophy being destined for south Dublin as early as mid-August.
Bohs boss Alan Reynolds knows the stakes are high.
Reynolds said: "This is a massive game for both teams. There's nothing between us in the table at the moment and we’ve played Derry twice this season and there has been very little between the sides on the pitch either.
"I think it goes without saying that Derry are a formidable outfit. They brought in a lot of experience at the start of the season and Tiernan Lynch has put his own stamp on things over the past few months.
"Derry are a well organised team who don't cough up many chances, so whatever chances we do get, we have to maintain the ruthless streak we’ve shown over the past couple of games in front of goal. Our players know that, we have prepared well and we’re going up there looking forward to the challenge."
At the other end of the table, the league’s bottom four sides will face off, with the main event in Turner’s Cross.
Ger Nash has yet to win a league match in the nine has taken charge of Cork City and that must change if they are to avoid relegation.
Having led by three points over Sligo Rovers a month ago, they are now eight adrift ahead of this clash.
Two 1-1 draws earlier in the season did little for either side. City have just two wins in the 24 matches, one of which came in their second game of the year.
Nash hinted in his pre-match media comments that the July transfer window was used to lose players that may have not been committed enough to the club.
He said: "We've had probably an evolution of the squad with number of players leaving in this window.
"We've probably had some players coming in that the makeup of the squad now is a lot more Irish-based.
"The couple of loanees in terms of like Kitt Nelson and Freddie Anderson are people who have chosen to be here. They could have left, they chose to stay and extend the loan deal.
"I've just had done a team meeting and when I look around what I see in the squad for Friday night is probably a group of people who fully understand the importance of the next 12 games to the people of Cork, to the City fans and for all of our careers.
"It’s not just that they want to be here, but they need it to be successful. I need it to be successful, the staff need it to be successful and the player need it to be successful.
"It's as simple as that."
Points are what City need most as they look to give themselves a lifeline.
Sligo have turned their season around with an impressive run at home, picking up three victories on the bounce and a draw against the Dublin Rovers.
Fixtures away from home has proven a much trickier ask, although they did progress in an FAI Cup in Oriel Park last week.
While all the urgency is on Cork to win, Sligo could reel in the teams above them if they were to pick up three points.
Their manager John Russell has not shied away from the importance of the game.
"This is a huge game for both teams", Russell stated.
"I expect Cork will have a huge crowd out to get behind them and as I said earlier in the season, Turner's Cross is a tough place to go and even tougher when the crowd's back is up. It's akin to playing against 12 men.
"They're scrapping for their lives and will see this a must win and we need to be prepared for an onslaught. We need to be able to wrestle the game from them and dictate the play.
"We're only a few points ahead of them and we are still trying to catch the teams above us. We are looking up but we need to make sure we pick up results in these sorts of games and add a real buffer between ourselves and that bottom spot. There's no better way to do that than by getting a result in Cork on Friday."
Galway United and Waterford FC will be looking below them ahead of their meeting at Eamonn Deacy Park in the bid to secure a place in the next year’s Premier Division.
Both sides have been inconsistent lately, with the Tribesmen particularly struggling with two wins from 12.
The loss of Moses Dyer has hit United hard and goals have become an issue, registering just one in the last three league clashes.
Reinforcements have arrived in the form of Dara McGuinness and more could still follow ahead of the closure of the transfer window on Monday night.
Malcolm Shaw has looked a handful for defenders in his early appearances as Dyer’s replacement without finding the net so far.
The Blues registered an important league success over Cork and can firmly cement their place in the top flight with a victory in the west.
