UNBEATEN top dogs Larne face the acid-test of their Irish Premiership credentials when they host second-placed Linfield, the holders, at Inver Park tonight (7.45pm, live on BBC2 NI).
A single point separates Tiernan Lynch’s seasiders from David Healy’s Blues after nine games of an engrossing season and Linfield go into the top-of-the-table clash determined to settle the score after Larne won 4-1 when the sides met in the Co Antrim Shield semi-finals last month.
Larne go into the game full of confidence thanks to a four-game winning streak and, although the season hasn’t yet reached the halfway mark, victory tonight will serve notice that Lynch’s side are in it for the long haul as they bid for a first-ever Gibson Cup
“We will give it 100 per cent and hopefully that gets us to where we need to go," said the Larne manager.
"There is still a long way to go. There are too many good teams, too many smart managers and I have no doubt there will be twists and turns along the way."
It was Linfield’s unexpected slip-up at Warrenpoint Town that allowed Larne to move to the top of the table. The Blues can reclaim the lead with victory tonight but, with the memory of his side’s 3-1 loss at Inver Park last year still fresh in his memory, David Healy is well aware that his side will have to be at their best tonight.
"It will be a difficult challenge,” said the former Northern Ireland international.
“We have been down there a couple of times and we have been beaten. We are under no illusions about how tough it is going to be. They are top of the league at the minute and we are trying to cling onto their coat tails.
"They are in a rich vein of form after winning the County Antrim Shield. They are full of confidence and we look forward to the challenge."