Waterford FC welcome Finn Harps to the RSC and will be without the familiar face of Danny Searle. Instead, League of Ireland veteran Keith Long will lead out the Blues, with fans eager to witness his Premier experience.
Speaking ahead of the game, Waterford's new head coach said: "I want to try get off to a winning start. I’ve come in the day before the first match but I’ve been able to rely on Brian, Gary and David and their knowledge of the players.
"I’ll be looking for a really good performance tomorrow night; if we do that we give ourselves a really good chance.
"We want to try put a sequence of good results together starting on Friday."
He takes over a side that occupies the final playoff promotion spot on eight points, with a game in hand over their rivals.
🔵 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗗𝗔𝗬 🔵
🏆 SSE Airtricity First Division
🆚 Finn Harps
🏟️ RSC
⏰ 7:45pm
📺 LOITV
🎫 https://t.co/xoaCAfx5t7#WaterfordFC #WATvFIN pic.twitter.com/4vSLO4nk1J— Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) March 31, 2023
Kick-off at the RSC is at 7.45 pm.
Getting underway at the same time in Ferrycarrig Park, James Keddy's Wexford will entertain Treaty United.
His side is positioned one place below Long's men and is hunting for a third straight victory at home.
𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗗𝗔𝗬
🟣🟡COME ON WEXFORD!!🟣🟡
🆚 Treaty United
🏟 Ferrycarrig Park
📅 Fri, 31st March
⌚️ KO 7:45pm
🎟 Tickets https://t.co/VlgLyrGqlS pic.twitter.com/lG5mxiveLg— Wexford FC (@WexfordFC) March 31, 2023
Speaking to Beat Sport, Keddy hopes for a good response from his side.
"We hope to get back to winning ways this evening," he said.
"We are looking forward to the challenge ahead!"
𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜 - 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🗞️
📰: Read up on the match preview for tonight's clash vs Athlone Town AFC as we aim to win our 7th game on the bounce.
🔗: https://t.co/KP7fpCEQEW#ItsATribalThing | #ATHGAL pic.twitter.com/TgbUwOw0Xi
— Gaillimh Aontaithe (@GalwayUnitedFC) March 31, 2023
Leaders Galway United are on the road to take on Athlone Town.
Manager John Caulfield spoke ahead of Friday night’s fixture: "We’re looking to keep our run going.
"They are really powerful up front in the forward positions, but at the same time, we’re on a really good run of form and we want to keep it going."
Cobh Ramblers host Bray Wanderers in a battle of second versus third.
Ian Ryan's Bray are yet to taste defeat in 2023.
𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘!
🆚 @CobhRamblersFC
🏆 @LeagueofIreland
🏟St. Colman’s Park
⌚️7.45pm
📱Updates on our Twitter page🎟️ Away fans - https://t.co/8l0Y9iylWQ
📺 LOITV - https://t.co/g0DdaHe4wH pic.twitter.com/awqCjTdbLr
— Bray Wanderers FC (@BrayWanderers) March 31, 2023
Two of the three sides without a victory to their name face off tomorrow as Longford Town welcomes Kerry FC for the first time.
𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 | 𝙏𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙫 𝙆𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙁𝘾
Check out our preview of Saturday's big game when we take on Kerry FC for the very first time. 🙌🏻https://t.co/XYLLbUwc2K#Town2023 | #CmonDeTown | #LTFC | 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/aK3EYnZ2r2
— Longford Town FC (@LongfordTownFC) March 30, 2023