FOUR PlayR-Fit championship sides go for glory in the Clearer Water Irish Cup quarter-finals this weekend - including title hopefuls Portadown and Institute - leaving league leaders Dundela with the chance to extend the gap at the top of the table when they host struggling Ards on Saturday.
The Duns are two points clear of Bangor - who don’t have a fixture - with a game in hand. The promotion picture is complicated by the fact the Wilgar Park club have not applied for a Premiership licence.
Dundela boss Stephen Gourley, whose side surprisingly lost 4-0 at Annagh on their last outing, said: “We will pick ourselves up and go again. Anyone can beat anyone in this league and it’s up to us to go on another good run.”
Ards are in a relegation dogfight at the bottom of the table and make the short hop to east Belfast off the back of a 1-0 midweek defeat to Newington at Inver Park in Larne where the north Belfast side are tenants.
The Swans along with Portadown, Ballyclare and Institute face Larne, Cliftonville, Glentoran and Linfield respectively in mouth-watering Irish Cup ties.
Newington’s clash with Larne has an added twist with both teams playing at ‘home’.
Portadown are first into action on Friday night when they face Cliftonville at Shamrock Park - live on BBC - in a repeat of the famous 1979 final when the Reds triumphed 3-2.
Institute conclude the weekend cup action on Sunday by hosting Linfield at the Brandywell.
FIXTURES
Saturday, March 2 (3pm): Dundela v Ards; Annagh v H&W Welders; Dergview v Ballinamallard