Their season revitalised on the back of two victories, captain Declan O'Brien says he and his Drogheda United team-mates owe it to themselves to get something from a domestic season that threatened, a few short weeks ago, to be petering out to nothing.
A difficult run-in which sees them meeting Derry City twice, either side of a trip to leaders Shelbourne, means fourth-placed Drogheda must maintain their rediscovered form if they are to get at least third place and with it entry to Europe and a shot at defending the Setanta Sports Cup trophy they won back in April.
"The two wins have hauled us back into it with some sort of a shout," said O'Brien ahead of tonight's televised clash with Derry at the Brandywell.
The pace of Shane Barrett, who is over a bout of 'flu, is again available to manager Paul Doolin while key defender Jason Gavin has trained all week despite the dead leg suffered against UCD last Saturday. Midfielder Gavin Whelan (thigh) is the chief doubt.
Derry, their wins in Longford and against Sligo midweek moving them to within four points of Shelbourne with a game in hand, have been hit with suspensions to defender Ken Oman and midfielders Killian Brennan, Rúaidhrí Higgins and Barry Molloy while winger Paddy McCourt (hamstring) remains out.
Midfielder Kevin Deery is fit to return, though manager Stephen Kenny will give a late fitness test to striker Gary Beckett who picked up a groin strain against Sligo.
Shelbourne welcome Glen Crowe back to their attack for the trip to Belfield where a win is a must to at least maintain the four-point lead over Derry ahead of their visit to the Brandywell on Tuesday.
Jamie Harris is likely to come into Shelbourne's central defence in place of Colin Hawkins who, along with Greg O'Halloran and Alan Moore, is suspended.
With Pat McWalter, Alan Mahon and Stephen Hurley all out injured, UCD work off the same squad as was perhaps a little unfortunate not to have got something from last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Drogheda.
Resigned to relinquishing their title following last week's shock 2-1 defeat at bottom-of-the-table Bray, Cork City are determined to finish with a flourish and qualify for Europe and the Setanta Cup.
Neal Horgan returns at right back following suspension for the visit of Sligo Rovers to Turner's Cross, though left back Danny Murphy is a doubt with an ongoing ankle injury.
Richard Brush comes into Sligo's goal for 'flu victim John O'Hara. Manager Seán Connor, who described Tuesday's 4-0 defeat at Derry as like being kicked around by a donkey, must also rejig his midfield as Chris Turner is suspended and winger Harpal Singh (hamstring) is unlikely to be risked with next week's FAI Cup semi-final in mind.
Fellow FAI Cup semi-finalists St Patrick's Athletic are unlikely to risk either striker Trevor Molloy (knee) or midfielder Dave Mulcahy (hamstring) against Bray Wanderers at Richmond Park. Manager John McDonnell may also make a change at left-back with John Frost due a suspension next week.
Tonight's fixtures (7.45 unless stated)
NATIONAL LEAGUE - Premier Division: Cork City v Sligo Rovers; Derry City v Drogheda Utd (live on RTÉ 2, kick-off 8.0); St Patrick's Ath v Bray Wanderers; UCD v Shelbourne; Waterford Utd v Longford Town. First Division: Galway Utd v Dundalk Monaghan Utd v Finn Harps (8.0).
