Waterford FC return to Premier Division action on Friday night when they hit the road to Oriel Park.
The Blues beat Dundalk 4-1 when the sides last met, but hattrick scorer Maleace Asamoah will not be available for tonight's game.
Since their last league game, the Blues have won the Munster senior cup, beating Kerry on Monday, but tonight must return to more pressing matters.
Sitting fourth in the standings, Keith Long's side took 31 points from a possible 63 in their 21 games to date, winning five at home and four away, drawing twice at home and on the road, and losing four home and away.
In the two previous meetings with Dundalk this season, Waterford have won and drawn, with the most recent result ending positively when it ended 4-1 at the RSC.
They may not have conceded at home in recent times, but their record of results bodes well for the visitors. In ten games at Oriel, Jon Daly's side have failed to win on seven occasions, picking up three points in three outings.
While Dundalk occupy second bottom in the table, Blues boss Long cautions against an over-expectation of a result coming away from Oriel.
"They haven't conceded a goal in eight games up in Oriel Park. They're a really tough side," Long noted.
The head coach stressed the absence of Asamoah, who scored his first ever hattrick when Dundalk last travelled South, while also pointing out that the scoreline flattered his side.
As they return from the mid-season break - albeit with a Munster Senior Cup under their belt since Monday - Long is content with his sides standing, but warns against complacency.
"We have to be very cautious and understand the reality of this league," Long said. "We have to understand where Waterford FC are at this moment in time. We can't get ahead of ourselves, we can't for any second feel that we've got any given [right] because of our league position or because of Dundalk's position, that we can just turn up and go to Oriel Park and pick up three points. It just does not work like that."
