Ballymena United face Crusaders at home
United could climb into top half of table with victory
Familiar foes but different teams.
That’s the prospect at the Ballymena Showgrounds this Saturday afternoon.
Four days after meeting in the County Antrim Shield, Ballymena United and Crusaders meet again - this time with valuable league points up for grabs.
Oran Kearney’s side claimed victory at Seaview on Tuesday night but both he and opposite number Declan Caddell are well aware that what transpired in midweek will have little bearing this weekend.
For a start, both bosses rang the changes in the cup clash but are expected to revert to type in the bread and butter of the league.
Crusaders start the game on 15 points - three ahead of their opponents - but a win for Ballymena United could see them leapfrog their Belfast rivals on goal difference, depending on results elsewhere.
“It’s important that we use all of our squad, especially with the amount of games we have coming up - five games in 14 days,” admitted Oran after the midweek win
“The object is always to win but my objective behind the scenes is slightly more calculated in terms of the bigger picture, to make sure we have enough in the tank for Saturday and next Tuesday in the League Cup.
“It’s important that we try and keep a bit of freshness in the squad.
“You’d swap the Shield victory for victory on Saturday and the focus has to be - and is - on Saturday but you have to pay due respect to all the competitions.”
Ballymena United will check on the fitness of Finley Thorndike ahead of Saturday’s game after the midfielder hobbled off with what looked like a hamstring injury at Seaview.