The two key issues in this season's Premier Division could be put to bed tonight as champions-elect Shamrock Rovers head south to take on Cork City.
The Rebels must complete a major turnaround in their season to avoid automatic relegation, with a minimum of three wins required in their final seven matches.
Both sides have progressed to the last four of the FAI Cup, on opposite sides of the draw, as the Hoops chase a double and Ger Nash's men seek some salvation during a miserable year.
Cork produced one of their better displays of the year to take a point off Stephen Bradley's side earlier in the year in the first Turner's Cross fixture.
Their need is even greater tonight, particularly as they face another tough encounter on Monday in Inchicore.
The two games certainly represent a now or never scenario.
The Tallaght side are cruising towards the title with a seven-point advantage over their nearest rival and two matches in hand.
Three points on Leeside would all but end Derry City's outside hopes.
Bradley feels Cork have turned a corner under Nash: "It's clear to see the changes he’s made since he’s come in.
"He has them in a place where they’ll be looking to stay up, in terms of play-offs and even beyond that. I don’t think anyone would’ve thought that was possible before Ger came in.
"So he’s done that and the improvements he’s brought to Cork City are clear to see. So we know it’s a difficult game, but we have our own aims and goals, our own reasons for wanting to go there, perform and get three points."
The Candystripes face Shelbourne as the race for Europe intensifies.
City laid down a marker by taking maximum points in a seven-goal thriller with Bohemians last week.
The onus is on Shels as they sit outside the top three going in the fixture. Five teams are in the mix for two or possibly three European spot and this is one of the major matches in the run-in.
St Patrick's Athletic will hope to repeat their success over Galway United in Richmond Park.
The Saints needed extra-time to go through against the Tribesmen but showed their class in the end.
Galway's league form has been woeful. Without an away league victory since April, they've also registered two points from their last night matches. It was an improved display in Dublin last week and they will hope to build on that at least.
Their target is avoiding sinking into the play-off place tonight.
Pat's are gathering momentum with the cup run and could move closer to the top three if tonight's game goes their way.
Bohemians have slipped out of second spot and must regroup as Waterford FC head to the capital.
The Gypsies came off worse in the helter-skelter clash with Derry and are losing form at the wrong time of the year.
All is not lost for the Gypsies as they seek to avenge a loss to the Blues in their previous Dalymount clash.
The Blues have three trips to the capital for their remaining fixtures as they look to stave off the clubs in the relegation positions.
Five home matches may prove more fruitful but any positive result will be welcome for John Coleman after taking a single point from five matches in August.
Sligo Rovers are still reeling from their capitulation in Kerry in the FAI Cup as Drogheda United visit.
The Bit O'Red looked to have serious force behind their season as they were cruising to the semi-finals in Tralee when 3-0 up, on the back of drawing level on points with Galway in the league.
Within little over an hour they were left distraught by what John Russell described as an "unforgivable" outcome, exiting 4-3.
Russell must now lift the players in the battle to stay up.
"Sometimes in sport it's hard to make sense of a defeat when you are in a position of such dominance," the Bit O'Red boss opined.
"What unfolded last week in our cup exit against Kerry hurts and will continue to hurt for a long time. We had a huge opportunity to put ourselves into a semi-final, but we didn’t take it.
"It was a tough dressing room after the game and an even tougher journey home. We all knew the importance of the game and what was at stake. I very much understand the frustration of our supporters and the backlash. We as a group must take our medicine after such a defeat.
"However, it’s important not to lose perspective after a defeat and to remember the transformation of our team since the mid-season break.
"We have such a talented group of players who are giving everything for the club. I and everyone at this club have such belief in them. We have clawed back a lot of points over the last two or three months and the boys deserve all the support they get along the way."
United suffered their own Cup heartbreak to Shamrock Rovers on penalties, at least showing far more character than tonight’s opponents to taking the leading side in the country all the way to penalties.
Their time as FAI Cup holders will come to an end soon but they remain in the hunt to get to Europe.
Given how competitive it will be in the final series, taking points from teams around the bottom is ultra important for Kevin Doherty’s men as they head to the Showgrounds.
