League of Ireland Premier Division Championship: On the eve of what's likely to be the biggest night in the club's history, Drogheda United players pointed to the camaraderie of a tightly-knit squad as being one of the cornerstones of their success.
"Very rarely has it dipped this year," said central defender Graham Gartland of the team's form ahead of tonight's match with Cork City at United Park in which victory will clinch the club's first league title.
"Obviously you can't go through a whole year without dipping a bit, that happens in any squad, but since the European games the mood in the camp has been great."
"I've never seen it at any other club, the way the lads get on together," added right-back Brian Shelley, perhaps the team's most consistent performer this season.
"Everyone gets on with their job and lads are good mates on and off the pitch.
"We all want the same thing and everyone is just happy to be part of the squad. They're all good lads and we all get on with it and are professional. The atmosphere is really good."
With Richie Baker still troubled by a knee injury, manager Paul Doolin is likely to name an unchanged side to that which beat Shamrock Rovers 2-0 at Tolka Park last week. "It's going to be a huge occasion for everyone at the club - but we have plenty of experience in the side to cope with all the pressures," said Doolin.
"Our approach will be no different than in the previous 29 games of the season."
Second-placed Cork City will want to delay home celebrations for good reasons of their own as they cling on to what's a Uefa Cup and Setanta Cup berth.
"There will be a lot of attention on the league title, but that does not enter my mind or the minds of my players," said Cork manager Damien Richardson who welcomes skipper Dan Murray back from suspension and, very likely, striker John O'Flynn from injury. "We're focused on the three points and we have to concentrate on our own performance. It will be a big test for us."
Meanwhile, the FAI yesterday announced that should United win the league this Friday, the trophy will be presented to the Louth club at their next home fixture, which is against Bray Wanderers on November 2nd.
After three defeats on the spin, Shamrock Rovers' manager Pat Scully has demanded a much improved display against St Patrick's Athletic in the third-versus-fourth clash at Richmond if their season is not to peter out to nothing.
"To lose three games on the trot at this stage having done so well and pushed for the league is bad enough - but the manner in which we lost them was most disappointing," said Scully. "That's the past now and we have to concentrate on getting Shamrock Rovers into Europe next season."
To add to their injury list of Aidan Price, Padraig Amond and John Martin, bans further deplete Rovers tonight with right back Ger O'Brien and midfielder David Cassidy suspended as Barry Ferguson completes the second of his two-match ban.
St Patrick's Athletic will want to take advantage if Cork lose in Drogheda by winning to move two points clear in second place ahead of their trip to Turner's Cross on Monday night. Joseph Ndo remains an injury doubt while Anthony Murphy, sent off in Sligo last Friday, is suspended.
Three vital league points and not revenge is the motivation for fifth-placed Bohemians against Derry City at the Brandywell, just 10 days after their League Cup final defeat there.
"Our attitude to this game will be totally different; we're not seeking revenge for that cup reversal," insisted Bohemians' manager Sean Connor.
"We need the three points to take advantage of any slip-ups by the teams ahead of us.
"I still want to finish as high up the table as I possibly can and we can gain some ground this week because of the way the fixtures have fallen."
Connor rejigs his defence with Jason McGuinness now suspended along with Des Byrne who serves the second match of his two-game ban while winger John Paul Kelly is out with hamstring injury.
Defender Ken Oman, winger Paddy McCourt and striker Mark Farren all undergo fitness tests for Derry.
Midfielder Shane McFaul returns for UCD for an FAI Cup semi-final rehearsal with bottom-of-the-table Longford Town at Belfield.
Though five points adrift, Longford, still clinging on to the hope of pulling off what would be a remarkable escape, have regular defensive pairing Damien Brennan and Kevin Doherty back from suspension, though winger Mark Rutherford must prove his fitness following an ankle injury sustained against Waterford last Monday.
Veteran defender Colm Tresson makes a welcome return to the Bray Wanderers squad following a 12-week injury lay-off as they hope to extend their unbeaten run to five games against Galway United at the Carlisle Grounds.
Ankle injuries keep Shaun Fagan and Daryl Robson out of a Galway team desperate for a result to extend the gap between themselves and second-bottom Waterford United who travel to Sligo Rovers tomorrow.
Tonight's fixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
FAI League of Ireland: Premier Division: Bray Wanderers v Galway United; Derry City v Bohemians; Drogheda United v Cork City (7.55, live RTÉ Two); St Patrick's Athletic v Shamrock Rovers; UCD v Longford Town. First Division: Limerick 37 v Kilkenny City Monaghan United v Shelbourne (8.0)
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