The Showgrounds is the venue as hosts Sligo Rovers look to push further clear from that relegation play-off spot while St Patrick's Athletic will look to maintain their push to qualify automatically for Europe.
A lot on the line then as John Russell and Stephen Kenny pit their wits against each other.
It's seven weeks since the sides last met. A game that was even enough, if somewhat uneventful, was changed utterly following the sending off of Sligo's Patrick McClean just before the break. It was a harsh call, a week on from Bit O Red goalkeeper Sam Sargeant also seeing red. Baffling awards that were ultimately rescinded. Still, frustration in the Yeats County was palpable.
Since then, Sligo's trajectory in the league has pointed in the right direction. A derailment was a possibility following the horror-show of that FAI Cup defeat in Kerry, but a home draw against Drogheda United and last Monday's hard-fought win away to Galway United has allayed fears that the rest of the campaign could go south.
As for Pat's, they head to the north-west on the back of a 4-0 thumping of Cork City, a night where Mason Melia celebrated his 18th birthday with a brace. It's three months since Pat's were last defeated in the league; a run of form where the number of draws only accentuates more the feeling of what might have been with regard to a genuine title push.
After taking four points from a possible six against Drogheda and Galway, John Russell was pleased with the response from his side following their 'woes of Tralee'.
"The job is nowhere near done yet, but we're happy with how the last week went", the Rovers boss told sligorovers.com.
"We created the better of the chances against Drogheda, tested them more than they tested us. We were unfortunate to not get the win here, truth be told.
"Then we go to Galway and pick up the points in a real pressure game. A six-pointer, a big crowd and a game we needed to win. The players did really well to deal with the pressure that was on them.
"To a man, the players gave everything and put their bodies on the line when they had to. First half, we weren't happy and we changed things around before the second half in which we did really well. We defended heroically when we had to and were a constant threat on the counter and could have had one or two more goals."
On paper, Pat's present a tougher challenge, with Russell expecting the home crowd to play their part at the Showgrounds.
"It'll be different to the Galway game in terms of what we'll be up against. Pat's like to draw you out.
They're patient and calculating in what they do and they have players all over their front six who can really hurt you. But we have tremendous belief in what we're doing and we back ourselves in any two horse race. We're at home so we'll hopefully have a big crowd.
"The numbers we had in Galway really forced us across the line and we can multiply that on Saturday. We're looking for everyone to get in well ahead of kick-off to make that big atmosphere we had against Drogheda.
"We only have two home games left and we really need to make the most of them. Every advantage we can get counts at this stage and every point we can pick up is huge. "It's so tight where we are in the league, but we've given ourselves that shot in the arm by putting ourselves ahead of the bottom three before Friday's games.
"It's in our hands at the moment and the players are doing and will do everything they can do to keep it that way."
In team news, centre-back Ollie Denham is the only injury concern with a hip complaint, picked up prior to the Drogheda game.
𝗦𝗝𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗚: "𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲" pic.twitter.com/gsAKuOatrG
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) September 26, 2025
St Pat's are looking to make it four wins from four against Sligo this term, with another three points moving them above Drogheda in the table.
Defender Axel Sjoberg spoke about "the great form" Pat's are showing at the moment.
In explaining that further, he told the club's media channel: "I think it started after the European campaign where we got confidence and played well. We are playing better away and that's a good thing as we near the end of the season."
With an FAI Cup semi-final to come against Cork City, there is much for Pat's to play for in these final weeks, with the Swede hoping that travelling fans will be in full voice in Sligo.
"We hope that many supporters will travel as they are helping us along, especially away."
