Three Sports Direct FAI Cup quarter-finals are scheduled for this evening with at least one First Division side guaranteed to progress and two more hoping to cause an upset.
With the league's top two sides meeting at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Saturday, those with more outside hopes of winning the competition will eye their chance to book a semi-final spot.
The major exception is Bohemians who are beginning to find some momentum and face UCD knowing they can completely turn around their season.
European qualification through the league looks to be out of the reach of the Gypsies due to a mediocre year.
The FAI Cup has been won by a top three side on each occasion for more than the last decade but that may not happen this year due to the fact only one of those teams will be in the semi-finals when one of Derry City and Shelbourne are eliminated on Saturday.
Bohs now hold a live hope of reaching the Conference League should they can win the Cup and may not face another Premier Division side before the final if things fall their way, if even that.
Alan Reynolds was under pressure, but picking up a win over Shamrock Rovers and two points against Shels has steadied the ship.
"We are pleased with our performances over the last number of weeks but there is nobody in there patting ourselves on the back," he said.
"We still have a lot of work to do, and we were disappointed we couldn't turn those draws against Shelbourne into wins because I think we are top in both."
College were superb in dumping Sligo Rovers out in the previous round.
Mikey Raggett impresses up front, while defender Eanna Clancy continues to progress.
They were unlucky to go down to 1-0 defeat to champions Cork City last week.
The play-offs are more than a month away so this competition provides is a wonderful opportunity for the Students.
Reynolds is well aware of that scenario: "This will be another difficult game. We are coming up against a very good team in UCD, and we will have to improve our performances even further because they are a confident side, in good form and flying high in the First Division.
"They have excellent young players and they have experience there too. You only have to look at their result away to Sligo Rovers in the last round to see how good they are, so we have analysed them extensively, and we know we will have to respect them.
"They are at home, they will have looked back at our game against Kerry and will be looking at this game as another big opportunity for them, so it is up to us to be at the very top of our game."
Bohs will be without the suspended Dawson Devoy. Adam McDonnell and striker Filip Piszczek also miss out with injury.
Drogheda United take a break from their ongoing battle to avoid the drop by travelling to Athlone Town.
Tonight could bring a mixed outcome for United knowing Dundalk are in action and could overtake them in the table.
The Boynesiders have yet to win away from home this campaign, losing 11 of their 15 matches.
Town are set to be in the play-offs at the end of the season after a good season and they have reached this stage by knocking out Waterford FC.
A heavy defeat to Finn Harps last week was a setback but they can look forward to their biggest crowd since the opening home game of the season with a semi-final spot on offer.
Wexford FC and Treaty United make up the all-First Division tie.
Wexford look to be another side destined for the play-offs and are the form team in the country with six wins in succession in all competitions.
Treaty reached the semi-finals in 2022 and will look to repeat that feat, with hopes of promotion looking to be over.
The teams met three weeks ago with Wexford claiming a 3-1 win in the Markets Field. They'll be confident of repeating the trick
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