The League Of Ireland Premier Division leaders, Waterford FC, are on the road to Eamonn Deacy Park to take on Galway this evening.
The hosts won the First Division title last year, with automatic promotion secured with time to spare as the Blues battled their way through the playoffs. Galway picked up their first win of the campaign last weekend, beating Dundalk away to move into fifth spot in the standings.
Waterford also won in round two. Keith Long's charges were come-from-behind winners away to Drogheda to take the top spot, but remain level on points with Bohs, Shels and Derry.
Defender Daragh Leahy - to the amusement of his teammates - is currently the league's top scorer having netted twice in last week's game, while Padraig Amond also opened up his account for the year. Niall O'Keefe bagged his first-ever senior goal for the club in that game.
When the sides met in the First Division last season Galway took the bragging rights with three wins in their four games, while the sides drew once.
"We were well beaten in the other games [three losses]," said Head Coach Keith Long. "We know how difficult an opponent Galway represents for us this week, but the boys have trained really hard and we've worked on things that we hope will stand to us in the game. We need to go there, believe in ourselves and put in a good performance if we have any chance of coming away with points."
Waterford's result against Drogheda came at a difficult venue in difficult circumstances. Trailing a goal to nil early on, the response came quickly when within a minute, Daragh Leahy found the back of the net for the first of his two scores.
The conversation ahead of the curtain raiser focussed on the Blues needed a quick start if they were to have hope of avoiding a year of staring up at the table. They have gotten that start with four points from two games.
"We've got to back that up now this week," Long added. "To win after winning is really important for any team. Not for one second do we underestimate Galway, we know the strengths that they have got, but we've got to try and go there and try and win the game if we possibly can. That will be our intention, as difficult and all as that will be."
Ahead of the trip to the West, New signing Connor Evans is unavailable after picking up a knock in training. Christie Pattisson is away on compassionate leave and Harvey MacAdam comes into the squad after joining the Blues on loan last week from sister club Fleetwood Town.
WLR will bring you live commentary of the game in Galway from 7.30 pm on Friday, with thanks to McConnell's Toyota Waterford.
