Glentoran welcome Coleraine at the Oval tonight (kick-off 7:45pm) before the league splits in April.
Both teams have secured a top-half finish and are scheduled to clash again next Saturday.
The Bannsiders sit one place above the Glens in the Danske Bank Premiership table, boasting a nine point advantage. The double-header of fixtures, starting tonight, represents a perfect chance for the East Belfast side to reduce that deficit.
Alan Kernaghan’s men head into the match on a high after two wins on the bounce, meanwhile their opponents have tasted defeat twice in as many games.
Glens in-from striker Curtis Allen bagged his 19th and 20th in all competitions last Saturday to help his side to a 1-2 victory over Carrick Rangers at Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena. The hitman also scored a brace the previous week in Glentoran’s 2-1 win against Portadown, which helped to cement their place in the top six.
After a flying start to the season, Oran Kearney’s side have suffered a dip in form, winning just four in their last 10 games – the same as the Glens.
Their latest setback came last Saturday when a single Kevin Braniff goal was enough for Glenavon to snatch all three points at the Showgrounds. The Bannsiders were given a golden opportunity to equalise from a penalty kick, but James McLaughlin’s strike was turned away by Jonny Tuffey in goal to round up a frustrating day for Kearney and his team.
Both sides had to settle for a point when the pair last clashed earlier this season at the Oval. Rodney Brown’s header gave the visitors an early lead, but Allen levelled for the Glens from the penalty spot to share the spoils.
Nathan Webb