Glentoran will be going flat out at Newry this afternoon to protect their nine-point cushion at the top of the Irish League Premier Division table. The championship has become a priority for the men from east Belfast after their dismissal from the Irish Cup.

Cliftonville ruined the Glens double aspirations and manager Roy Coyle is determined there will be no slipup where the league title is concerned.

Newry, their hopes of playing in Europe next season fading fast, are equally anxious to pick up vital points.

Linfield, who simply cannot afford to lapse again, will need to be wary of Portadown at Windsor Park. Their opponents are stuck at the wrong end of the table and desperate to avoid disastrous end-of-season involvement in a relegation play-off.