Four fixtures this weekend in The Danske Premiership
Just the four games in the Premiership this weekend with Linfield, Glentoran, Cliftonville and Glenavon not in action. Those games are postponed due to players being drafted for international duty.
First plays third in the Danske Premiership, as champions and league leaders Crusaders visit high-flying Ards. Going in to last weekend, Ards surprisingly sat at the top of the table, and a win tomorrow would see them leapfrog the Crues back into first place. Niall Currie's men have lost just once this season and are coming of the back of a 3-1 league cup win over Newry City in midweek, while Crusaders dispatched Loughall by the same scoreline. The Crues will be tough to shift from top spot though, they boast the division's best goal return and its most miserly defence.
Meanwhile Coleraine will hope to bounce into Ferney Park after their 4-1 win over Glentoran last weekend. The Bannsiders continued that form with a 3-0 cup win over derby rivals Limavady United and now face winless Ballinamallard United. The Fermanagh side will be desperate to record their first win of the season, and a 3-0 cup win over Dundela in midweek will have done their confidence no end of good going into the tussle with the Bannsiders.
Next Game #danskebankpremiership pic.twitter.com/xSc2qxwdM9
— Coleraine FC (@ColeraineFC) 1 September 2016
Dungannon Swifts beat Coleraine and Cliftonville in their last two ventures before last week's 1-1 draw with Linfield at Windsor. The Swifts will be hoping to continue that excellent form when Ballymena United visit Stangmore Park. Meanwhile Ballymena have had a stop-start opening to their season with just the two wins, however the Sky Blues won on their last visit to Stangmore back in April.
Finally, Portadown will hope that their 6-1 midweek win against Donegal Celtic was the start of some momentum. Pat McGibbon's side are currently mired in a three game losing streak in the league, but the Ports take on a Carrick Rangers side that have only won once this season. Carrick lost to Ballymena United on their last time out. Carrick also had a well needed 2-0 win in midweek over Ballyclare Comrades.
1 day to go! MASSIVE game tomorrow against @Carrickrangers . Come one, come all & get behind Pat & the team! pic.twitter.com/nfcjGGxHt0
— Portadown FC (@Portadownfc) September 2, 2016
Danske Bank Premiership - Saturday 3 September - 3pm
Ards v Crusaders
Ballinamallard United v Coleraine
Dungannon Swifts v Ballymena United
Portadown v Carrick Rangers