The pressure is on Derry City in the first round of Monday games of this year's SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season, with a rampant St Patrick’s Athletic side their opponent in Richmond Park.
City have yet to produce a convincing display with three defeats in six to begin a season which was supposed to provide their strongest title challenge yet.
With the Saints, and Bohemians, winning each week, and a Shamrock Rovers side also beginning to reel off victories, the situation is becoming stark for Tiernan Lynch.
Defeat in the capital could genuinely make any tilt at becoming champions quite unlikely.
The Saints are picking up the traits of a Stephen Kenny side, looking electric going forward and scoring goals for fun.
The 2025 campaign saw them average just 1.16 goals per match in the 2025 league and began this year with two blanks. In the last four games, Pat’s have found the net 12 times.
Currently six points clear of Derry, tonight’s game offers Pat’s the chance to make a statement on their own league aspirations.
The leaders Bohs make the shortest trip of their season to Tolka Park to face Shelbourne.
Their previous meeting was one of the most dramatic fixtures of last year when Kerr McInroy struck in the closing stages.
At the time it looked like costing Bohs the chance to play in Europe in 2026, but things have been going from strength to strength since that moment for the Gypsies.
It took a late Patrick Hickey goal to claim three points last Friday against Galway and ensure 15 points from 15 in the last few weeks.
Manager Alan Reynolds said: "We know how big a threat Shelbourne pose. We had some really big battles last season and they have players of real quality who can hurt you if our concentration levels aren't what they need to be.
"We saw it when we played them in our last game against them in Dalymount last season. We played some brilliant stuff in that game, really good stuff. We were 2-0 up after 20 minutes or so, and still 2-1 up with only three minutes to go and they came back to hit us twice in the last few minutes to win the game.
"When we played them in Tolka last summer, again we had a good second half and were 2-1 up going into injury-time only to be pegged back to 2-2. So we are well aware of how good Shelbourne are and the threats they pose.
"They have strengthened further since last season too, and have an excellent manager in Joey O’Brien as we saw from the way their form picked up when he took charge last year.
"But we are coming into this game in really good form. We’re not patting ourselves on the back, we really want to keep that run going."
The form will be tested further in Tolka, although Shels are seeking their first home success of the year.
Victory in Derry last week may prove the tonic needed to ignite their home season.
The champions roll on to Louth after what was a largely routine victory over Sligo Rovers on Friday.
On a poor surface, two late first-half goals killed the game. While Roberto Lopes will serve a suspension this evening for two yellow cards, the Hoops saw out the 90 minutes well and will hope to add three more points against a struggling side.
The Boynesiders have been uncharacteristically sloppy in defence to fall to a third defeat on the spin last Friday.
This set of fixtures is going to prove critical all season as four of the sides tipped to be involved at the bottom face off.
Waterford face the greatest need for points with Jon Daly, like Derry boss Lynch, also under fire for their start to the campaign.
The Blues were woeful in a 5-0 drubbing in Oriel Park and remain the only side without a victory in 2026.
They face a Galway United outfit still feeling the pain of yet another late concession on Friday.
Tonight's game will come too soon for new signing Kevin Long for the Blues, with the experienced defender hopeful of being available for selection before the end of the month.
United have shown lots of quality without putting many points on the board and will see tonight’s game as a major chance to open up a gap on the Blues.
Dundalk are hoping to build on their five-goal performance as Sligo Rovers visit.
The serious injury to Conor Kearns, and without substitute goalkeeper Enda Minogue, meant 42-year-old Peter Cherrie came on in the second half and he may have to start tonight.
He will become the oldest player to start a Premier Division game in over 30 years if doing so.
Sligo have a decent record in Oriel of late but a buoyant Lilywhite side will be hopeful of another victory.
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