SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Preview: Another lap in an incredible race

The most bizarre SSE Airtricity League season in memory will edge ever closer to its climax this evening, but you still wouldn't like to be the one calling the winner.

Leaders Shelbourne, who host Waterford at Tolka Park, are two points clear of Derry City, who go to bottom club Dundalk, who could be officially relegated tonight.

Shamrock Rovers, level on points with the Candystripes, continue their pursuit of another piece of League of Ireland history, travelling to Weavers Park to take on Drogheda United, who themselves are battling to avoid the relegation play-off match.

At Richmond Park, the loser of St Patrick's Athletic against Galway United will surely be out of the title race but the winner, if there's to be one, could be right in the middle of that conversation come 10pm.

There's been some discussion over whether the tightness at the top is a reflection of an overall increase in quality across the board in the league, or whether Rovers - champions for the last four years - have merely come back to the pack.

Either way, this has been the most exciting run-in for some time with just three games left for each club to play.

Shelbourne v Waterford, Tolka Park

Two teams in particularly poor form will battle it out in Drumcondra. The Blues have just seven points from their last 10 games in the league, but Shels have only managed one more.

If there's a positive for Damien Duff and his squad, it's that when they last played, losing to 2-0 to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght, it seemed like they would be off the top of the table by the time this fixture came around.

Derry's failure to win their last two games, however, has kept the Reds two points clear of the chasing pack, although they do have the worst goal difference of the top