AFTER A whirlwind spell at the Galway United helm, Jeff Kenna takes charge of the club for what could be the last time tonight at Belfield where a win will guarantee the club's place in the top flight for next season.
In common with Cork City who are battling Sligo Rovers for the last of the Uefa Cup spots for next season, United have a one-point advantage plus a significant edge in terms of goal difference over Finn Harps going into this evening's programme of games.
What it means is that Kenna's men, like Alan Mathews', will prevail if they can match the result achieved by their rivals but they can both actually afford to lose as long as their respective challengers do no better than draw.
"I've spent the week instilling into the players that now is not the time to get complacent," says Kenna, who has a full squad to choose from. "It's going to be very tough in Belfield and we have to go into the game in the right frame of mind. It's in our hands now."
As he has had for pretty much every game this season, Harps manager Paul Hegarty is missing a handful of players for the visit of Shamrock Rovers, with Stuart Malcolm suspended as well as Davy Byrne, Aaron Labonte and Cornelius Gallagher all injured.
The former Derry City midfielder admits that last week's defeat by Galway was a blow but the main thing now, he insists, is that his players concentrate on the job at hand rather than worrying about what's going on in Dublin.
"We can't influence what is going on at Belfield so at Finn Park, a win is a must, but it'll be a real scrap on a wet pitch against Rovers" he said. "Obviously they want to end the season on a high but so do we."
Cork City, meanwhile, are close to full strength for the visit to Bohemians, who have twice previously beaten the southerners by a single goal this season.
"It is a pity we don't have fourth place secured going into the game, but we will be going up to Dalymount to try and get the result that will get us over the line," says Mathews, who has Joe Gamble suspended and Colin Healy injured.
Bohemians, though, will be without Stephen O'Donnell (suspension) and Anto Murphy (ankle ligaments). Sligo, meanwhile, must wait to check on the fitness of Chris Butler ahead of the game against Bray but Séamus Coleman is ruled out due to suspension.
Elsewhere, Gareth McGlynn serves a one match ban for cup finalists Derry City as Cobh Ramblers visit the Brandywell and Drogheda United wrap up what has been a miserable season up at United Park with a game against St Patrick's Athletic that Dan Connor, Jamie Ewings, Shane Robinson, Ollie Cahill and Shane Barrett are all likely to miss through either injury or suspension.
