With their sights set on the European places in the League of Ireland's Premier Division, St Patrick's Athletic are set to host Waterford United at Richmond Park on Friday.
Saints have struggled over the past month and will be desperate to get back on track this week, while the Blues will be hoping to respond to their loss last time out.
Match preview
© Imago
Stephen Kenny's St Patrick's enjoyed a six-game winning streak between mid-March and late April, but having lost four of their last six matches ahead of this clash, they have slipped down the table.
On Monday, Saints were thrashed 4-0 by league leaders Shamrock Rovers, and though the result was not unexpected, the boss will be disappointed to see his side concede twice in each half and fail to net even a consolation goal.
That defeat dropped Kenny's side down to fifth in the top flight, where their 25 points has them one behind fourth-placed Drogheda United and two behind Bohemians and Derry City, who occupy the division's spots for entry into the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
However, as they look to climb back into the top three, this week's hosts will draw confidence from the fact that they are unbeaten at Richmond Park across all competitions since June 2024, and after beating Cork City and Galway United at home earlier this month, fans may even be expecting to take all three points.
If St Patrick's can earn a much-needed victory on Friday, then they could find themselves as high as second place by the weekend, and perhaps only four points behind the Hoops in a best-case scenario.
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Meanwhile, John Coleman's Waterford produced a commendable four-game winning run at the start of May, but considering that the team endured an eight-match losing streak across the two months prior, the recently-appointed coach will be hoping to prove his side's stability this week.
Last time out, the Blues lost 3-1 on their own turf against Shamrock, and the manager will be frustrated with the way that his team surrendered the lead that Padraig Amond brought them with only 10 minutes on the clock.
Dropping three points left Coleman's men seventh in the table on 21 points, a comfortable nine above Cork in the relegation playoff spot, but six short of third-placed Bohemians and second-placed Derry.
That being said, the visitors will feel capable of making up the ground on the European places as the season progresses, and given that they have won their last two games on the road ahead of their trip to face Saints, they could put a dent in the deficit this week.
Waterford's eighth victory of the campaign may see them leapfrog Shelbourne and move up to sixth place, where they would only be one point behind their opponents before they host Drogheda next Friday.
Team News
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St Patrick's strikers Aidan Keena and Mason Melia will be looking to fire their side back into the top three, and the duo should be backed up by Brandon Kavanagh from an attacking midfield position on Friday.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Sean Hoare, Joe Redmond and Luke Turner are likely to make up Kenny's back three, and the centre-backs will be keen to maintain their unbeaten run at Richmond Park.
As for Waterford, they could be without centre-half Kacper Radkowski after he was taken off with an injury against the league leaders, and Navajo Bakboord could take his place in the XI.
Elsewhere, James Olayinka should start in midfield alongside Samuel Glenfield and Kyle White, while Dean McMenamy operates behind the frontmen.
At the tip of Coleman's attack, Tom Lonergan and Padraig Amond, who netted the opener against the Hoops last time out, are likely to start once again.
St Patrick's Athletic possible starting lineup:
Anang; Hoare, Redmond, Turner; Elbouzedi, Lennon, Baggley, Power; Kavanagh; Keena, Melia
Waterford United possible starting lineup:
McMullan; Horton, Bakboord, Leahy, Burke; Glenfield, Olayinka, White; McMenamy; Lonergan, Amond
We say: St Patrick's Athletic 1-1 Waterford United
St Patrick's may be in lacklustre form overall, but their lengthy unbeaten run at home is hard to overlook as they welcome Waterford this week.
On the other hand, the Blues have won back-to-back matches on their travels ahead of Friday's clash, so expect to see a close-fought contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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