Thanks to their better goal difference, Shelbourne will win the league this evening as long as they match or better Derry City's result with one proviso: in the unlikely event Shelbourne lose to Bohemians while Cork City win in Derry and the combined results allow Cork to improve their goal difference as compared with that of the Dubliners by a combined total of 10 then Cork will retain the title.

Cork's more realistic objective is second place and a guarantee of Uefa Cup football, which they can achieve by winning at the Brandywell by two goals or more. Derry need a draw to be sure of second while Cork need all three points to be sure Drogheda won't overhaul them to take third.

The title winners will earn a place in the qualifying stages of next season's Champions League while the runners-up will be sure of a spot in the Uefa Cup and the third-placed side will secure at least a place in the InterToto Cup. The Uefa Cup spot will pass to the third-placed side with the fourth placed team gaining entry to the InterToto in the event Derry finish second in the league but win the FAI Cup. If they win the league then Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic will go into the Uefa Cup regardless of how the cup final turns out.