LOI preview: Derry victory could reignite title race

"Do we have a title race? It's up to Derry whether or not we have a title race... do they have the hunger?" wondered Stuey Byrne on the RTÉ panel last Friday night up in Oriel Park.

If that take from a League of Ireland legend can be considered 'conventional wisdom', then we will know for sure just after half-nine on Friday evening if that race is indeed on.

'Do we have a title race?' - Shamrock Rovers' loss in Dalymount Park sees the gap to Derry fall to four points - Stuey Byrne and @1GaryRogers assess whether the Candystripes have a realistic shot at unseating the champions in the run-in #rtesoccer #LOI pic.twitter.com/yAOmTUqJyu

Derry City v Bohemians, Brandywell, 7.45pm (Live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player)

Derry will be hoping to take advantage of a two-day head start on league leaders Shamrock Rovers with a win over managerless Bohemians in front of the RTÉ cameras at the Brandywell.

Rovers don't play until Sunday evening when they will host second-bottom Finn Harps in Tallaght.

The visitors' dugout will have a new look about it of course, as Derek Pender and Trevor Croly have taken temporary charge following the departure of Keith Long, and Derry manager Ruaidhrí Higgins feels that Bohs are a potent threat regardless of who is in the hotseat.

"It's never nice to see anyone lose their job, but Keith can be very proud of the progress the club has made while he has been manager" he said.

"Obviously Derek and Trevor know the club and the league very well too. You'll see it across the world that teams can get a bit of a bounce out of a change of management, so we have to be ready for that.

"I've said it many times before that Bohemians boast some of the best attacking options in the league. They come into this on the back of