Shamrock Rovers are used to playing with a target on their back but Graham Burke says it can be the making of them.
Chasing a fourth league title in-a-row, the champions have mastered the know-how to cope with expectation.
Derry City struggled when they found themselves top of the pile early last season and eventually fell from their perch.
They chased the Hoops home in second and will be better for it, but Burke accepts that experience goes a long way.
Last week, Rovers were winning in Sligo but came under relentless pressure in the final 10 minutes - and eventually conceded a 95th minute equaliser.
And they go to Drogheda tonight - no club took more points off Rovers last season - knowing every club raises their game against them.
A tricky night awaits and Burke - who scored at the Showgrounds - said: “We’ve always faced that, not just now.
“Playing for this club, every game is a big game. Everyone wants to beat Shamrock Rovers. We’ve faced that many times.
“Last week it was the first game of the season and there’s a big crowd out there, but it’s nothing new for us.
“Other teams playing us, they’re playing Shamrock Rovers, a big club with the success that we’ve had.
“We know these teams are going to be rightly up for it and we’re going to have to match that.
“For most of the game in Sligo we’ve matched it and they've nicked a draw at the end.
“It would have been great to get three points on the first day of the season, but it wasn’t to be so we’ll move on to Drogheda.
“It’s a tough place to go. They took (five) points off us last year and we always know it’s going to be a tough game.”
But Burke is relieved to have opened his own account after hitting the mark in Sligo and hopes to enjoy an injury free-run from the outset.
He missed pre-season last year and was dogged by niggling setbacks at various stages of the campaign, but is feeling strong this time around.
A three-time Ireland international, Burke, 29, added: “I’ve worked hard all pre-season to get as fit as I possibly could.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t start the season with three points, but I’ve started with a goal and I’m happy. As an attack-minded player, you want to score in the first game.”
Drogheda were a thorn in the side of the top three - Rovers, Derry and Dundalk - last year, taking 14 points from them.
A reduced budget wasn’t the reward that manager Kevin Doherty was hoping for going into the 2023 campaign.
Sizing up Rovers tonight, Doherty said: “We’ve been good against the top sides and hopefully we can do the same again with a different group.
“We’re looking forward to this game. You have to prepare right, because if you don’t you’ll get hammered. But there’s no pressure.”
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