Glentoran host Portadown at the Oval on Saturday afternoon in search of ending a three game losing streak.
Alan Kernaghan’s side have struggled for consistency since the turn of the year, collecting just nine points in their last ten games.
Despite back-to-back wins in mid-February the Glens have since fallen to three straight league defeats. The recent shortcoming against fierce rivals Linfield was particularly bitter as the East Belfast side were well beaten at the National Stadium last week.
A brace from Ross Gaynor and a strike from Aaron Burns helped the Blues close the gap on league leaders Crusaders to five points, while Callum Birney was sent off to round off a poor afternoon for the Glens.
However, the Irish Cup holders have the opportunity to put an end to their losing run as they clash with seventh place Portadown tomorrow afternoon.
The Ports have been struggling to find any kind of form this season, with just one win in their last ten league outings.
The game will also be Pat McGibbon’s first experience of being in charge of the away dugout. The former Northern Ireland international is yet to taste victory as interim Portadown manager after his first game at the reins ended in a defeat to Coleraine.
It was a goal-fest at Shamrock Park in the reverse fixture in December, unfortunately the Glens were on the wrong side of an emphatic 5-3 score-line.
The last meeting at the Oval came in September last year. Marcus Kane’s first-half goal was enough to earn the hosts three points and Kernaghan’s men will be hoping for similar success and make their home advantage count tomorrow.
Following Birney’s dismissal at Linfield, he joins Steven Gordon on the suspension list, and both will not feature tomorrow as a result. Jonathan Smith also remains a doubt after he hobbled off injured last week.
Nathan Webb