If Cork City win the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup final next Sunday, all of what follows will be futile.
But for now, there are three teams level on points in the battle for fourth place in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division ahead of Saturday's final day and provided favourites Shamrock Rovers win the cup final, fourth would deliver a spot in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
As it stands, St Patrick's Athletic are just about holding onto fourth after being held by Waterford last Friday.
But only goal difference separates Stephen Kenny's side from Bohemians and Drogheda United who go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon.
St Pat's know a win at a Shelbourne side that has already qualified for Europe again will almost certainly be enough to pip Drogs and Bohs considering the goal difference advantage, particularly over the former.
But as ex-Shamrock Rovers, UCD and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Paul Corry pointed out on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast, the Saints' consistent inconsistency makes it difficult to definitively back them to go to Tolka Park and get the result they desire against Shelbourne.
"Shels will play that game with the shackles off them. The pressure's off, they've done the business over the last couple of weeks," he said.
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"(St Pat's) knew coming into this last round of fixtures that there were difficult ones ahead where they had to play (Shamrock) Rovers, Bohs, Waterford and then onto that Shels game.
"They were going to have to win a couple of them. They did brilliantly to beat Rovers 1-0 but then when you expect them to go on and beat Waterford last Friday evening, they stumbled.
"They gave away a sloppy goal from a set-piece and they don't have enough to get themselves over the line.
"And that has been the main criticism of St Pat's this year, is that when the pressure's been on and when there is a real focus and need to get three points, they've failed to get over the line."
Corry added that the spread of goals beyond prolific Tottenham Hotspur-bound teenage striker Mason Melia has been an issue, considering the attacking talent within Kenny's squad.
"Whether or not they're going to be able to go into that game against Shelbourne, away from home, big pressure on them, and get three points, you couldn't sit here confidently and say they have enough within that team to get the business done," he continued, although he acknowledged that if they play to their potential, Pat's are more than capable of getting a result on the other side of the River Liffey.
Meanwhile, Graham Gartland said Bohemians' visit to his former club Drogheda United will be a tough one for Alan Reynolds' team as they hit a poor run of form at the wrong time, having been neck and neck with second placed Derry City just a few weeks ago.
Bohs were on course to take a big step towards Europe at Dalymount Park last Sunday but spurned a two-goal lead before losing 3-2 to a Shelbourne side who had just returned from a Conference League game in North Macedonia.
"I think it's a really difficult game for Bohs," he said.
"I think Drogheda will fancy their chances of taking them on and I can see Drogheda winning that one."
Gartland pointed to the recent head-to-head record between the sides with Kevin Doherty's side beating Bohs 1-0 three times this season - indeed Drogheda have only lost once against their Phibsboro-based opponents in their last eight league meetings.
"(Bohemians') record against Drogheda this year has been poor," he said.
"They haven't been able to break them down, they haven't been able to get round them and get down the sides of them."
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