The sixth ranking event of the Irish domestic season gets under way on Saturday with the Grand Prix at Potters Snooker Club.
The weekend competition is the last of the 2018/19 campaign before the campaign-concluding National Championship in April and May.
This season began with encouraging entry numbers – 75 players notably taking part in October’s Hickson’s Centra Open in Celbridge.
But numbers have gradually gone down since then and the latest tournament in Drogheda boasts just 44 runners.
Several of the top competitors in the country will be in attendance, though.
Brendan O’Donoghue, currently ranked as the season’s number one after winning two of the previous five titles, will face Paddy Brady in the last 32.
Recent former professional Josh Boileau, who returned to winning ways in last month’s Irish Masters, entertains Ross Bulman in an intriguing battle between two of the country’s best young players.
A beaten finalist in the last couple of ranking events, Robert Murphy plays James Flaherty, while Greg Casey meets David McArdle.
Casey’s fellow Corkmen Aaron Hill, the European Under-18 champion, and Ryan Cronin are also in the draw.
Reigning national champion Michael Judge, meanwhile, awaits the winner of the first round contest between Rodney Goggins and Karl Fitzpatrick.
The action in County Louth is set to run until Sunday when the champion will be crowned.
