'Linfield 100% the team to catch' - Higgins

Ruaidhri Higgins is in his first season as Coleraine manager

Despite his team heading the Irish Premiership, Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says Linfield remain "100% the team to catch" as the sides prepare to lock horns for the second time in 11 days at Windsor Park on Saturday (17:30 GMT kick-off, live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website).

The delayed first league meeting of the season between the teams at Ballycastle Road on 28 October saw the Bannsiders recover from a two-goal half-time deficit to draw 2-2.

While Linfield had 22 points to spare over nearest challengers Larne at the conclusion of the last campaign, it's Coleraine who currently top the table this term, with the Blues sitting fourth, 11 points behind the pacesetters with three games in hand over Ruaidhri Higgins' outfit.

"There's a third of the season gone and Linfield are rightly the favourites," argued Higgins before the blockbuster weekend meeting of the sides in Belfast.

"There is a lot of continuity there, they've had that team for a number of years now, whereas we're at the start of a journey so nothing's changed for me.

"As a manager it's my first competitive game at Windsor. Our players will love it, no doubt about it, they'll thrive in that environment, I can't wait."

'Building momentum'

The Coleraine boss says the proximity of the two top-flight fixtures between the clubs will mean they will be familiar with each other's strengths.

Goals from Matthew Fitzpatrick and Sam Roscoe had the Blues two goals to the good at the interval, with Matthew Shevlin and Charles Dunne finding the net in the second half.

"Both teams can take a lot from previous meeting. Certainly the first half highlighted their strengths but it also highlighted where we can get joy as well," added Higgins.

"They'll have learned a lot about us as well and that's the nature of it, when you play so close together.

"We know that they might change their system slightly – you'd expect both [Matthew] Fitzpatrick and [Kieran] Offord to play on Saturday, so we'll be prepared for that."

Coleraine have won four and drawn one of their past five league outings since losing to Bangor on 4 October and the former Derry City manager is hoping they can continue that unbeaten sequence as they continue to pursue a second Irish League title in their history.

"It would be brilliant for the group [to win at Windsor], for the whole club, for the supporters, for owners, board, players, staff, it would be brilliant.

"It helps with momentum. We've had a good start to the season and we're maybe further ahead than we might have expected.

"I think we're really enjoying our football, the players are enjoying playing together, we've got a bit of momentum behind us at the minute. Win at the weekend and that would really kick us on from a momentum point of view so that would be the big thing."