There is just the one switch to the Glenavon side who were narrowly beaten by Linfield with Niall Quinn replacing Mark Haughey, who is not in today's squad.

Niall Currie also makes just the one switch to his last starting XI, who won against Crusaders. Douglas Wilson comes into the line-up for the suspended Baris Altintop.

Shay McCartan returns to the senior squad for the first time in over a month and is amongst the substitutes.

Glenavon: Byrne, Toure, O’Sullivan, Snoddy, Malone, McDaid, Campbell, Quinn, Atherton, McKeown, O’Connor.

Subs: Fry, Marshall, Doona, Lynch, Ward, Doran, McGovern.

Portadown: McCarey, Wilson, MacKinnon, Chapman, Mayse, McCullough, Fyfe, Wylie, Ukek, Obhakhan, Thompson.

Subs: Ray, McElroy, Henderson, Traynor, Riley, Mullan, McCartan.

Image source, BBC Sport

Both Glentoran and Linfield come into today's Boxing Day 'Big Two' derby in great form having won four of their last five matches respectively.

Despite being top of the Premiership by 13 points, Linfield have lost all three meetings so far this season to the Glens, including two league fixtures.

Avoiding defeat this afternoon is simply a must for the Blues, as David Healy makes three changes to his side that defeated Glenavon on Saturday. Euan East, Scot Whiteside and Joel Cooper come in for Ben Hall, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Ethan McGee.

Declan Devine on the other hand makes just one change to his starting XI that beat Cliftonville at Solitude this past weekend. Former Linfield player Cameron Palmer comes in for James Douglas who drops to the bench.

Glentoran: Gyollai, Lyons-Foster, Kane (capt), Hvid, Sule, Connolly, Palmer, Fisher, Amos, Singleton, Jenkins.

Subs: Mills, Aouachria, Murphy, Lindsay, Russell, Douglas, Thorndike.

Linfield: Walsh, Roscoe, East, Whiteside, Shields, Millar, Cooper, McKee, Fallon, Mulgrew (capt), Orr.

Subs: Johns, Allen, McDaid, Ballantyne, Archer, McGee, Annett.

Image source, BBC Sport

Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of one of the undoubted highlights of the Irish League season - the Boxing Day derby Irish Premiership fixtures.

As we struggle to overcome some of the after-effects of the excesses of Christmas Day what better way to spend the afternoon than the football feast offered up by a full programme of top flight matches with crucial points, and of course bragging rights, at stake.

At the Oval, league leaders Linfield will be aiming to end a run of three straight defeats to Belfast Big Two rivals Glentoran, while across the city Crusaders are at home to Cliftonville in the north Belfast derby.

The sense of anticipation and sense of rivalry will be just as keen at Ballycastle Road where Coleraine entertain Ballymena United, while at Mourneview Park Mid Ulster sides Glenavon and Portadown lock horns.

Completing the Yuletide card, Larne entertain Carrick Rangers in their first encounter of the season at Inver Park, with Dungannon Swifts having home advantage against Loughgall in yet another appetising derby fixture.

As always, you won't miss a thing with our extensive coverage of all six games - audio coverage courtesy of Sportsound, live text commentary, in-play clips of all the goals and any other key moments, report, video highlights of each game and post-match reaction, you will find it all here! Stay with us and enjoy!