Five games played in the first division so far for Waterford FC and Ian Morris' team find themselves three points off the pace.
Cork City and Galway sit joint top, with the Westerners slightly behind on goal difference. The Blues kicked off their campaign with back-to-back wins over Athlone and Bray, before accepting their first dropped points with a 2-all draw away to Galway.
Two rapid goals from the home side in Turners Cross a fortnight ago were enough for Cork to bag all three points on offer, with the Blues struggling to take their chances when offered.
Having led the running early on, Waterford have now shifted from the hunted to the hunter as they make the trip to Markets Field to face Treaty United.
"I've been both, and it's different mentalities for both. When you're on top of the league, everyone has the motivation to beat you, it's easier to be in the chasing pack and that's why you've got to have respect for teams that go to the top of the league and stay there and see out titles because it's difficult" said the manager Ian Morris.
Yet to be beaten at home (with two games played at the RSC so far), Morris stresses that teams are looking at Waterford as a valuable scalp to take as one of the pre-season favorites to win the league. Having held on to the bulk of last year's squad, the Blues were well-touted as one of the teams who would be challenging for first division honours and Morris says that comes with a certain amount of pressure, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
"You have a target on your back, but that's where we want to be. I want to win every game, I want to be there. We've got to be comfortable being that, and maybe that's the difference in what way the mentality is going from last year, it was 'let's just see games through and try nick a goal and try play' and this year everyone's expecting you to be absolutely dominant in every single thing you do."
"The reality of this league is that it doesn't let you do that an awful lot of the time. When teams sit in, it's difficult to break them down. Everyone wants to come here and play because of the fans, because of the pitch, the facilities - they want to come beat Waterford. You've got to stand up, got to put your chest out and go and perform. That's what you're here for."
