DERBY rivalry will reach fever pitch at the Oval this afternoon when Glenavon and Portadown battle it out for a place in the Irish Cup final. It will be their fourth such semi-final confrontation this season and by far the most important and significant.

Portadown, the Premier League leaders, are intent on taking another step on the road to an admirable double while their opponents are only too well aware that defeat will kill off their season.

Glenavon dropped out of the title reckoning on Tuesday night and another setback would leave them without a major trophy. They are keen to retain a foothold in Europe, having earned over £100,000 in September through qualifying for the first round proper of the UEFA Cup.

Portadown are already Euro-bound with a first or second place in the championship guaranteed and are regarded as red hot favourites. They are in the middle of a sparkling spell which has seen them account for Glentoran and Linfield and they have already beaten their Craigavon neighbours four times.

Portadown await a fitness test on central defender Brian Strain but his Glenavon counterpart Gary Smyth, who spent part of the week in hospital, will play.