Linfield boss David Jeffrey has branded Tuesday evening's top of the table cross-city trip to Cliftonville "an absolutely massive game".
The Blues will start the Solitude showdown four points ahead of second-placed Cliftonville, with one game in hand.
"We have nine big league games still to go as in this league every team is capable of beating every other. The title race is too close to call", Jeffrey told the club's website.
"We don't want to lose there and we certainly don't want to lose 4-0 as we did on our last visit there."
Peter Thompson, whose last gasp winner on Saturday allowed Linfield to see off St Patrick's Athletic and reach the semi-finals of the Setanta Cup, is suspended.
"Jamie Mulgrew's been struggling with a groin problem, but he should be OK for Tuesday", Jeffrey said.
"Michael Carvill has a knee ligament injury and he will be out along with JP with a knee problem and of course Kris Lindsay who's awaiting an operation.
"BJ Burns and Philip Lowry missed out (on Saturday) with niggly little injuries but both should be fine for Tuesday."
Reds defender Ronan Scannell said it is vital that Cliftonville pick up full points.
"It will be nearly impossible to catch Linfield if they beat us," he told the club's website.
"As things stand, we have still to play them twice so we're in with a shout of making things interesting for the remainder of the season. That could all change on Tuesday because, if they pull seven points ahead with an extra game to play, then they're pretty much out of sight."
The showdown will mark Cliftonville's first match action in two weeks.
"Our points return over the last couple of months has been very pleasing but, to be honest, our performances were not what they should have been. We were playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday week after week and that can take its toll", Scannell said.
"Recently, though, we've been able to get in a couple of training sessions per week and that has allowed us to work on a number of things, including our passing which had not been of as high a standard as we would have liked".
Meanwhile, Lisburn Distillery is set to continue their late charge against relegation at Portadown.
The Whites recorded back-to-back wins for only the second time this season when they won 3-2 at fellow strugglers Institute on Saturday.
Institute face Crusaders, with manager Stephen Baxter shorn of key injured trio Mark Dickson, Colin Coates and Chris Morrow.
Crusaders got back to winning ways on Saturday with a convincing 4-1 victory over Newry City at Seaview.
Newry, meanwhile, host Coleraine, with Gerry Flynn preparing for his first match since being re-instated as the border club.
Carling Premiership - Tuesday 16 March (kick-off 7:45pm):
- Cliftonville v. Linfield
- Institute v. Crusaders
- Newry City v. Coleraine
- Portadown v. Lisburn Distillery
© UTV News