Shamrock Rovers could be crowned Premier Division champions for a fifth time in six seasons when they meet arch-rivals Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium this evening.
The Hoops will win the league if they claim all three points and Derry City lose to Drogheda United in Sullivan and Lambe Park.
Regardless of what happens tonight, the title is destined for Dublin 24 after a dominant campaign by Stephen Bradley's side.
A double may await in the Aviva Stadium in November, while they begin another UEFA Conference League phase next week that will see their season continue until at least December.
Just two teams have beaten Shamrock Rovers in the league. The Gypsies have had the upper hand in the derbies this campaign, claiming three wins in something of an anomaly to the rest of the league season.
Bradley feels the results could have gone differently: "The first two games we were very good and should’ve won those, but we didn’t and at the end of the day, football is about winning and losing. But the bigger picture for us is that we’re very close to winning the league and we just need to stay focused on that task and if we do that, we’ll be fine."
Bohs have their own concerns tonight; needing to stay ahead of the pack in the European race and also wanting to avoid the ignominy of seeing their nemesis wrap up the title before their eyes.
Manager Alan Reynolds is excited about the occasion: "We go to Tallaght Stadium with belief and confidence in ourselves. We have shown that we can beat the best in the league this season but to do that we have had to be at our very best too.
"It will be a massive occasion, the guts of 10,000 people in the stadium.
"The atmosphere should be electric and I always say that these are exactly the kind of games any footballer should want to be involved in.
"We all need to embrace the occasion, not get caught up in it but embrace the energy of the crowd, and focus on the job we have to do on the pitch."
If the Hoops come out on top, attention will turn to Drogheda to see if they can beat Derry which would settle the title race.
In turn it would also have a huge impact in the battle to acquire a place in Europe next season.
The Boynesiders gave themselves a shot in the arm with four points over the weekend and sit just four points behind the Candystripes.
Victory for Derry would make it very difficult for either United or next in line Shelbourne to catch them in the top three.
The relegation picture will become very clear come the end of the night as the bottom two clash when Galway United face Cork City at Eamonn Deacy Park.
The stats make for grim reading for both sides.
United fell to a third consecutive defeat to Sligo Rovers last Monday and have now just taken three points from their last 11 matches.
Sligo, in return, have registered 19 points to leapfrog their Connacht neighbours into eighth place.
The Tribesmen, now in the relegation play-off spot, know they must end their long winless streak to stop the extremely worrying slide.
City hit one of their many low points of the year earlier in the week when shipping four goals in Inchicore and their hopes of avoiding the drop are diminishing.
Failure to win tonight will almost certainly lead to a third relegation in five years.
Waterford are also in the mix for the relegation play-off following their fifth defeat on the spin. They take on a Shels side looking to propel themselves back towards the top four.
The Reds' Conference League campaign begins next Thursday against Hacken in Dublin. Shels will need a very strong end of the season in the league to get back to Europe next summer.
Manager Joey O'Brien wants his players to face the scenario head on: "There's pressure, and I’ve never been afraid to use that word in a football sense. To be at this stage of the season with still so much to play for, in the league and with a European campaign ahead, isn’t that exactly what you want as a footballer?
"We’ve been fortunate over the last couple of years that it’s gone right down to the last game, 2023 in Drogheda, 2024 to win the league in Derry. We’ve had setbacks, we have never given up, and that has got us to the last day the last two years, with a lot on the line, and that experience is something we’ll lean on.
"Tonight is another big step, there is pressure, we have to embrace it, enjoy it, and be ready for it."
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