Carrick, still buzzing from their 3-0 demolition of Crusaders last week, make just the one change today, with Seanan Clucas coming back into the starting lineup. David Cushley drops to the bench.

The Swifts make two changes following their 2-0 win over Glenavon last Saturday. Dean Curry and Thomas Galvin come into the starting 11.

Carrick Rangers: Glendinning; McGuckin, Maciulaitis, McCullough (c), Buchanan-Rolleston, Clucas, Andrews, Crowe, Cherry, Heatley, Gibson.

Subs: McAuley; Forsythe, Surgenor, Gordon, Cushley, Allen, Given

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, S. Scott, Durry, Knowles, Dillon, Glenny, McGinty, Galvin, Wallace, Mitchell, Bigirimana.

Subs: Grogan; J. Scott, King, McGovern, Boyd, Alves, Maguire.

Image source, BBC Sport

New Glenavon manager Paddy McLaughlin says he is "buzzing to be back in the cauldron" of Irish League management after being appointed as successor to Stephen McDonnell in the role.

McDonnell parted company with the Lurgan Blues after a disappointing run of form which sees the club languishing in 11th place in the Premiership table with just three wins from their 17 league games to date.

McLaughlin left his position as Cliftonville manager in April 2023, before a spell as assistant boss at Derry City, which ended in February.

The former Institute boss has agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Glenavon as he prepares to try and resurrect the fortunes of the mid Ulster club.

"I wasn’t waiting on the perfect thing to come up but I was waiting on something that I’d be interested in and keen on," said McLaughlin of his return to management.

"Glenavon, obviously the pitch that they have and the training facilities, and the club itself is a good club, renowned to be a very well run club, a good club to get an opportunity with.

"The set of players they have too. I think they’re definitely underperforming. I don’t think they should be sitting where they are at. There’s more than enough talent there to start climbing the league."

Image source, Pacemaker

Marty McCann and Colin Coates have joined Glenavon as part of new manager Paddy McLaughlin's backroom team.

The former Cliftonville manager was appointed Lurgan Blues manager on Sunday after the departure of Stephen McDonnell 24 hours earlier.

Both appointments have previous working history with McLaughlin from his time at Solitude with McCann working as a first-team coach in north Belfast and Coates part of the playing squad.

All three were at Stangmore Park on Tuesday as McLaughlin took charge for the first time in Glenavon's 2-1 defeat to Dungannon Swifts in the Mid Ulster Cup semi-finals.

Image source, Pacemaker

There is just the one change to the Portadown side who were the 2-0 victors at the Oval last Saturday with Eoghan McCawl replacing the suspended Shay McCartan.

Newly appointed manager Paddy McLaughlin makes three changes to the Glenavon starting XI who were defeated by Dungannon Swifts in Stephen McDonnell's final game.

Calum Birney, James Doona and Keith Ward start with James Carroll and Michael O'Connor dropping to the bench while Niall Quinn is not in today's squad.

Portadown: McCarey, Altintop, MacKinnon, Chapman, Mayse, McCullough, Fyfe, Ukek, Obhakhan, McCawl, Thompson.

Subs: Ray, Wilson, McElroy, Henderson, Wylie, Traynor, Mullan.

Glenavon: Deane, O'Sullivan, Birney, Marshall, Snoddy, Malone, McDaid, Campbell, Doona, McKeown, Ward.

Subs: Byrne, Toure, Atherton, Carroll, O'Connor, Doran, McGovern.

Image source, BBC Sport

Reds manager Jim Magilton has made a single alteration to his starting line-up following his side's 1-0 defeat to Ballymena United, which ended a run of five straight wins in all competitions.

Experienced midfielder Ronan Doherty returns to the fold, replacing Aaron Pettifer, who drops to the substitutes bench.

In the visiting dugout, Loughgall boss Dean Smith opts for three changes from his side's 4-0 defeat to Coleraine as the Villagers look to close the gap on Glenavon in 11th.

Pablo Andrade, Alberto Balde, and Adam Towe come into the starting XI with Luke Cartwright, Jay Boyd, and Lewis Francis making way.

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Pepper, Addis, Newberry, Kearney, Hale, Conlan, Doherty, Gormley, Glynn, Steven.

Subs: Ridd, Pettifer, Curran, Donnelly, Casey, Corrigan, Madden.

Loughgall: Gartside, McDermott, Rea, Murdock, Kelly, Andrade, Ferris, Norton, Gibson, Balde, Towe.

Subs: Turker, Cartwright, Boyd, Harvey, McCloskey, Kelly, Teggart.

Image source, BBC Sport

The postponement of this afternoon's scheduled match between Ballymena United and Larne, after the Showgrounds pitch was deemed unplayable, means there are three top flight matches up for decision this afternoon.

The Mid Ulster derby between Portadown and Glenavon at Shamrock Park is given added spice by the fact that it is new Lurgan Blues boss Paddy McLaughlin's first league game in charge of the Mourneview Park outfit.

The former Cliftonville and Institute boss has emphasised how pleased he is to return to the dugout after a spell on the sidelines but will know he faces a tough task against a Portadown side who are unbeaten in their last four Premiership outings.

In contrast, Glenavon are without a victory in their last six league matches, including four defeats.

Linfield's 1-0 loss to Glentoran on Friday night offers up an opportunity for Cliftonville to reduce their deficit to the pacesetters to five points at the top of the table if they can overcome Loughgall at Solitude this afternoon.

The Reds' reverse at the hands of Ballymena seven days ago ended their run of four straight wins in the top division.

Elsewhere Carrick Rangers will be eager to build on their win over Crusaders last week when they host Dungannon Swifts at Taylors Avenue.

Plenty to whet the appetite then so stay with us to keep track of all the action as it unfolds with our live text commentary, live audio coverage and in-play clips of all the goals and key moments. We have you covered!