Two teams with opposing ambitions do battle on Friday when Dundalk host Galway United at Oriel Park in the League of Ireland Premier division.
The hosts are languishing in the relegation playoff spot, while the visitors are in sixth and aiming to finish in the European places by the end of the campaign.
Match preview
Dundalk's 16-year stay in the Irish top flight appears to be under serious threat, sitting ninth in the table with 23 points, four points from safety, and having played more games than most teams above them with just 11 matches remaining.
A dismal start to the campaign saw the Lilywhites fail to win in any of their opening 11 fixtures, leaving them bottom of the table with just six points in that time.
Dundalk remained at the bottom of the table until matchday 18, by which point Jon Daly, the fourth man to manage the side this year, took charge, leading to clear signs of improvement in recent weeks.
Under Daly's guidance, Dundalk have climbed to ninth place and are now within touching distance of the teams above them, thanks to three wins and a draw in his nine matches, but they have played two more games than eighth-placed Bohemians.
The Lilywhites have taken four points from their last two games, against relegation rivals Bohemians and Drogheda United, boosting their confidence heading into this one, although they will face a tougher challenge against Galway United.
As for the visitors, they are enjoying a brilliant first year back in the League of Ireland Premier division since their relegation in 2017, currently sitting sixth in the table and pursuing a place in the top three.
Galway United started the season as expected, losing four of their first eight matches to leave them in seventh place, but a subsequent run of nine matches without defeat saw the side rapidly climb the table.
However, their fortunes have taken another turn in recent outings, losing four of their last seven league fixtures, resulting in them dropping from third place down to sixth.
John Caulfield's side are still in with a chance of finishing in the top three and qualifying for European competition, trailing third-placed Waterford FC by just three points while also having a game in hand on three of the five teams above them.
Galway United will be heading into this match with plenty of confidence, having already beaten Dundalk 2-0 in both previous meetings this season.
Team News
The hosts are expected to remain without Andrew Boyle, Dara Keane and Paul Doyle for this game as all three continue their recovery after suffering injuries throughout the campaign.
Jamie Gullan leads Dundalk's goalscoring charts with five goals from 22 appearances in the league, and the forward is likely to partner with Ryan O'Kane in attack for this one.
Galway United will have a full squad to choose from after avoiding any fresh injury concerns in recent weeks, and Caulfield could opt to name the same side that beat Waterford FC earlier this month.
Stephen Walsh is expected to lead the line again for the visitors, and Caulfield will be hoping he can help address Galway United's scoring struggles this season, as they have managed just 19 goals, with only one team scoring fewer.
Dundalk possible starting lineup:
Goddard; Mountney, Animasahun, Faulkner, Pike; Horgan, Hakiki, Benson, Dervin; Gullan, O'Kane
Galway United possible starting lineup:
Clarke; Esua, Buckley, Brouder, Slevin; McCormack, Nugent; Keohane, Hickey, McCarthy; Walsh
We say: Dundalk 0-1 Galway United
Despite Galway United's recent decline, they enter this game against relegation-battling Dundalk as the favourites to take all three points, and we expect exactly that with a win for the visitors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
