Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley is playing down the potential importance of the Hoops' visit to ambitious Derry City tonight (7.45pm).
And while Candystripes chairman Philip O'Doherty has likened City boss Ruaidhri Higgins to Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, he predicts that succeeding Rovers as champions is a "big ask" this season.
Bradley's side got their bid for the three in a row underway with a 3-0 victory over UCD but while there is massive interest in this tie, the Rovers supremo said: "We just focus on the game in hand, like we always do, we don’t get caught up in what’s said outside.
"I’m sure people will want to watch two good sides, but we just focus on our performance.
"We know it will be difficult. They have good players, there’ll be a full house, it’s their first home game and they have really high expectations, but we’ll enjoy playing there."
Meanwhile O'Doherty is delighted with the upturn in season tickets for the Brandywell this season, with sales put on hold until after tonight's sold out tie.
"As a minimum we would like to qualify for Europe," said O'Doherty, who asked the same of Higgins in his first year in charge and Derry achieved that goal.
"Over and above that it would be nice to get some silverware, either the cup or the league. The league would be a big ask.
“We've almost got a new team and it’s a very strong squad but I'd reinforce what Ruaidhri is saying, we have to basically be realistic too.
"They have to become a team. There’s a few individuals that haven’t played together at all but it does seem a fabulous squad of players."
O'Doherty told the Derry Journal: “He (Higgins) seems to know exactly what he wants.
"He reminds me of a guy who used to manage the team. He’s very like him."
Derry assistant boss Alan Reynolds claims the buzz is back at the club.
"It’s similar to the last time I was here when Stephen came back from Dunfermline," he said. "That support will really lift the players now too.
“We’ll stay focused however. Every point needs to be earned.”
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