The 2024 league season will so far be remembered for inconsistency, unpredictability and openness within the Premier Division.
Tonight's fixtures could leave much of that behind and see Shels open up a six-point gap or even see the Hoops become their main rival.
The turmoil in Dundalk this week has overshadowed the title race which could bring great excitement in the coming week.
Shamrock Rovers look like being toppled after four years of dominance in the league.
Victories over Sligo Rovers and Galway United has given them hope.
Should Shels drop points in Eamonn Deacy Park and Stephen Bradley’s side leave Derry with the victory, the champions will certainly be putting fear into their rivals.
Derry have been the nearly men when it comes to the league crown.
With one FAI Cup during the Ruaidhrí Higgings tenure, and a chance of another to come having reached the semi-finals, the question is whether they can take the step forward required to win a title.
The visit of the dominant club of this decade back in top form will tell a story.
The other two fixtures concern the battle for a European place and avoiding the drop.
St Patrick's Athletic are on a great run and face a Waterford FC outfit struggling to maintain a fantastic campaign so far.
If the Blues can turn around the form line they will eliminate the Saints in the Conference League spot shake-up.
Bohemians looked to be safe after a revival in recent weeks. Their clash with Drogheda United could be a rehearsal for the FAI Cup final.
United can put move clear of Dundalk as they go in search of a first away victory of the season in the Premier Division.
Derry City v Shamrock Rovers, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
Derry City may have taken this position at the start of the season.
Shelbourne will visit the Ryan McBride Brandywell on the final night of the season.
Four points off top and with Shamrock Rovers trailing behind them, there are no excuses from here on in.
An FAI Cup semi-final is secured and now all focus returns to the league.
This is a pressure situation and perhaps they have not performed to their best at those time.
That would not sum up their display against Shels last week in the Cup, only leaving wonderment as to why it can't be like this ever week.
Nevertheless, all that counts now is how they finish they year.
Winger Michael Duffy was back on song last week and spoke to the Irish News ahead of this game.
He said: "It's another big one for us and we’re at that stage of the season where every game is big.
"There aren’t many matches to go and after a big win last Saturday, we’ve another massive game with Rovers at home and it could really push us on going into the last seven league games.
"To be fair I didn’t write them out at any stage, because I knew they would hit far and they would come with a run of victories.
"Look, they’ve won the league four years in a row, so I knew with the squad they have that they could never be written off, but look I just focus on us and I’m not thinking about anyone else."
The Hoops' big target for the year was to qualify for the league phases of a European competition.
They may not have predicted how poor their league form has been.
But with many players recovered from injuries and with time to rest, suddenly they look the force of old.
A remarkable comeback would be on the card if they leave Derry with three points.
Stephen Bradley knows the onus is on Derry to close down Shels.
"We know what it takes as a team. We have been here before. It is about staying focused and about continuing this good run on Friday night up in Derry. We know it will be a difficult game, but the aim is to continue this run, go there and get all three points.
"It should be a good game as it is two good sides. We know they are a team full of good players and we are a top team.
"It has the makings to be a really good match and hopefully both teams will go to try and win, and we will see a good game of football."
Graham Burke returns for the Hoops while Sean Hoare is doubtful.
Galway United v Shelbourne, Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm
Two sides that have overachieved this season clash at Eamonn Deacy Park with expectations raised and so much on the line.
Shels are facing their title destiny in the coming weeks.
Most of their players are lacking in experience for a run-in and indeed Galway have more veterans in their side in the likes of Conor McCormack, Brendan Clarke and Garry Buckley.
Shamrock Rovers were able to survive the stern test a Galway side brings last Monday.
The question now is if Shels can too, particularly as they suffered a rare defeat on their last visit.
Damien Duff has attempted to move on from the setback of the FAI Cup loss.
"It's been a great week of training, with the lads in great spirits. They have an elite mentality, and they don’t dwell on setbacks because they know time is not worth wasted sulking.
"While it was disappointing to go out of the FAI Cup, it’s left us with a single focus, which can only be a good thing. All our energy is directed towards that one goal, with no distractions. We’re in an unbelievable position right now, and at the start of the season, this is exactly where fans, players, and staff wanted to be with seven games remaining."
JJ Lunney faces another couple of weeks on the sideline, as done Sam Bone.
The Shels boss is hoping to make up for their earlier loss in Galway, with three wins against them in Tolka Park between league and Cup.
Duff stated: "The game we lost still stings collectively and individually. A game that we dominated possession wise but lacked an edge and an intent. John Caulfield has done an incredible job and he is a legend of the game but we need to concentrate on us and do what we do best."
St Patrick's Athletic v Waterford FC, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
It feels so long ago when Waterford put St Patrick's Athletic to the sword at the RSC in March.
The Saints had goalkeeping woes and current Dundalk boss Jon Daly was in charge.
Since that game it was has been the Blues in the ascendancy and leave Pat's trailing.
The trend continued in early July when Ben McCormack's goal secured another three points at the RSC.
All of a sudden that could change.
Five losses in six before a win over the Daly's new side last week has given Pat's some hope of clawing back deficit, coupled with their own good results.
This is a game where the victor will be confident of ending up in the top four come the end of the season.
Keith Long has a full squad to choose as they look to maintain fourth place or even rise to third.
Bohemians v Drogheda United, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Alan Reynolds has described tonight's game as the biggest of the season for Bohs so far.
Two wins over Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup and the league have given the Gypsies a platform to rescue their season.
As they prepare to welcome Derry in a semi-final in a fortnight in Dalymount Park, Reynolds is keen to see his players shows their worth in the league.
He said: "For me this is the biggest game of the season so far and that's how we have approached it all week. "Drogheda have shown what they are capable of in the last while. They’re in the semi-finals of the cup, have had some really good and have scored a lot of goals in the process.
"They have good players and they have a system that works really well for them.
"So this is a massive game for us to see where we are. We have had some really good performances ourselves over the past number of weeks but we are striving to improve further still.
"You can’t have a good few weeks and be content with that. We have to keep improving, we have to keep striving to turn those draws into wins."
Dawson Devoy returns from suspension. Adam McDonnell (ankle) is close to a return but this game will come too early for him, while James McManus is ruled out with a knock. Filip Piszczek (ankle), Keith Buckley (knee) and Rob Cornwall (knee) remain out.
United have watched on as their closest rivals in geography and competition almost folded this week.
Often in their shadow, the Boynesiders have a chance to put to move clear in the battle to avoid the automatic drop.
Kevin Doherty is even keen to drag Bohs back towards them tonight.
"It's a target for us," he said. "There are seven games left and there’s still 21 points to play for.
"It’s the last time we play Bohs and we can control our own performance, but I’m not talking to the players about situations at other clubs. It would be very difficult to avoid news about what’s happening in Dundalk, but we’re fully focused on ourselves."
Luke Heeney serves a suspension following the red card against St Pat’s.
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