Rory Hale looks to orchestrate an immediate response for Jim Magilton's charges. His free kick from the flank is whipped towards the back post, seeking out Odhran Casey.

However, Aaron McCarey, in the Ports' goal, is alert to the danger, confidently claiming the cross to quell the visitors' threat.

Not much to report on from Taylors Avenue.

Long balls are the theme of the day so far.

A terrific ball in from the left wing by Evan East headed clear by Kyle McClelland.

Important touch from the big defender.

Early danger from Ballymena as firstly Stephen O'Donnell is just inches away from connecting with a Ben Kennedy free kick before the danger is cleared.

Then moments later, another dangerous Kennedy free kick is headed wide by Aaron Jarvis, who might have done better.

A strong run from Corey Smith, cutting in from the left wing and on to his right foot, but his effort is blocked by Chris Shields.

Jamie Mulgrew takes the ball to the byline but his cross is safely gathered underneath his own crossbar by recalled Coleraine 'keeper Rory Brown.

Shea Kearney showcases his nimble footwork, gliding past Josh Ukek's challenge with ease.

The Reds defender then threads a precise through ball towards Ryan Curran, but Lewis MacKinnon reads the danger well, stepping in with a crucial clearance to thwart the visitors' early advance.

First corner of the afternoon to the home side with three minutes on the clock.

Referee Steven Gregg starts the action at a dry but cold Showgrounds.

Which of these two sides will improve their position in the league table this afternoon?

The home side get proceedings underway as referee Rob Hennessy signals the start.

Joel Cooper gets us underway on a pleasant December afternoon at the National Stadium, where visitors Coleraine haven't won a league game in over five years.

Only current captain Lyndon Kane and Jamie Glackin remain from that 4-2 success in August 2019, one of 10 games current head coach Dean Shiels played for the Bannsiders.

Linfield have dominated recent meetings, not least a 3-0 success at the Showgrounds back in September, and will be expected to maintain that record this afternoon.

Loughgall get us underway at a cold Taylors Avenue.

Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton says he expects improvement from his side in the second half of the Irish Premiership season despite the Reds lying second in the standings, seven points behind leaders Linfield.

The Reds are on a run of just one defeat from their past eight top flight outings ahead of a testing trip to Shamrock Park to take on Portadown on Saturday.

"I know we are capable of more. If I thought we were at the height of our powers then I'd worry," said Magilton.

"I think there's more to come from all the players and obviously we'll be looking to strengthen in January to make us better."

The Irish Cup winners lost a wealth of striking talent in the form of Ronan Hale, Sam Ashford and Ben Wilson during the summer but the prolific Joe Gormley sits atop the league scoring charts with 14 goals so far in the 2024-25 Premiership campaign.

"A lot outside of the four walls of our changing room was made of it [losing the forward trio] and quite rightly in terms of the quality of the lads that had performed so well for us.

"But I always had great faith in the players that we retained.

"I knew that once we found some consistency in our play we could create scoring opportunities and given the scoring prowess that we still retain at the club I knew that they would score goals, and notably Joe. He's had a fantastic first half of the season."

Image source, Presseye

Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says his side will need to be even better in the second half of the Irish Premiership season if they are to have any chance of holding onto the top-six position they currently occupy.

The Stangmore Park club, who travel to Ballymena on Saturday, sit in a lofty fourth spot in the table after their first 19 matches of the campaign thanks to nine wins and three draws.

The league splits into a top six and bottom six for the final five series of games after all clubs have fulfilled 33 fixtures.

"It's going to be a huge ask even from the position we are sitting in," said McAree of retaining a place in the upper half of the table.

"We understand how hard we've had to work and what we've had to put into all those games to try and get results out of them so we know we'll probably have to work even harder now in the second half of the season as if clubs have underestimated us they're certainly not going to underestimate us from now on.

"So we're going to have to do better again, keep improving, keep getting better, play better and compete better if we're going to continue it on."

Image source, Presseye

John Herron has left Ballymena United after a short spell with the Irish Premiership club.

News of the 30-year-old's midfielder's departure from the Showgrounds was confirmed by the club on Friday.

"After a short spell with Ballymena United we bid farewell to John Herron. We thank John for his time with us and he will always be welcomed back at the Showgrounds," read a short statement from the Sky Blues.

The Braidmen signed Herron in July on a one-year contract but the ex-Glentoran and Larne player was unable to play until well into the campaign as he served a 10-match suspension handed out to him by the Irish Football Association [IFA] for bringing the game into disrepute.

The Scottish player received the ban after images of him at a concert wearing a T-shirt with a pro-IRA slogan appeared on social media while he was with Larne.

Image source, Pacemaker

Ballymena United v Dungannon Swifts (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

These are two teams that have really surprised everybody this season. Ballymena didn't get start off great and then went on a brilliant run at the top of the table for a little bit. Rodney McAree's team have probably sustained their form better over the course of the season but I think with Ballymena being at home they should take the points.

Prediction: 2-1

Carrick Rangers v Loughgall (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

Last year both teams did ever so well. Stuart King had Carrick in the European play-offs, but it didn't go so well for him this season. Stephen Baxter's gone in there and steadied the ship a little bit. I think Loughgall have just struggled this year, and I feel for Dean Smith because he's done a good job there.

Prediction: 3-0

Linfield v Coleraine (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

David Healy and his team will need a result as they always do. Linfield are so far ahead in the league table, but strangely for them they've been inconsistent at home. I haven't seen much of Coleraine but I know that one week they can be brilliant and the next they're a little bit poorer. It's probably a case of new team, new squad obviously with Dean Shiels coming in as manager. With the fixture being at Windsor I just think Linfield will be too strong.

Prediction: 3-1

Portadown v Cliftonville (Saturday, 15:00 GMT, coverage on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster)

Portadown have been brilliant all season. It's good to see them doing so well. With Cliftonville, I wouldn't say they had a bad start but they didn't have the greatest of starts I suppose, especially following last season. Jim Magilton's got them stabilised now and Joe Gormley's doing what he's done for the last 15 years or so, scoring every game. Portadown's home record has been fantastic. They get late goals and there always seems to be drama in their games so far this year.

Prediction: 2-2

Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter makes just changes from the side that defeated Ballymena United 2-1 two weeks ago. Both are enforced by suspensions with Ben McCauley coming into goal for Ross Glendinning and David Cushley replaces Kyle Cherry.

Loughgall make just the one change from their impressive 2-2 draw with Glentoran a fortnight ago. In come Adam Towe for Caolan McAleer as Dean Smith aims to get his side all three points for the first time in five outings.

Carrick Rangers: McCauley; Forsythe, Cushley, McGuckin, Maciulaitis, McCullough (c), Buchanan-Rolleston, Clucas, Crowe, Heatley, Gibson

Subs: McDowell; Surgenor, Watson, Gordon, Andrews, Given, Kelly

Loughgall: Gartside; Rea, Murdock, Kelly, Andrade, Ferris, Norton, Gibson, Balde, Francis, Towe

Subs: Turker; McAleer, Cartwright, Boyd, McCloskey, Kelly, Teggart

Image source, BBC Sport

Two teams who have caught the eye during the first half of the season go head-to-head at the Showgrounds.

Ballymena make three changes from the side which lost to Carrick in their last outing a fortnight ago with Alex Gawne, Aaron Jarvis and Sean Brown replacing Ethan Devine, Oisin Devlin and Josh Carson.

Dungannon make three changes from the side which lost in extra-time against Crusaders in the League Cup a week-and-a-half ago.

Declan Dunne returns in goal along with Dean Curry, Kealan Dillon and Adam Glenny. Patrick Solis Grogan, John Scott, Leon Boyd and Thomas Maguire are the players to make way.

Ballymena United: O'Neill, Brown, McCallion, O'Donnell, Lafferty, Rocks, Jarvis, Scott, Gawne, Kennedy, McCurry.

Subs: Johnston, Moore, Loughran, McMurray, Devine, Devlin, Carson.

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, S Scott, McGinty, Curry, Wallace, Glenny, Bigirimana, Knowles, Dillon, McGovern, Galvin.

Subs: Grogan, J Scott, King, Alves, Maguire, McAleese, Mitchell.

Image source, BBC Sport

The Ports welcome title-chasing Cliftonville to Shamrock Park this afternoon, with both sides opting for changes in this crucial league encounter.

The hosts, who could climb to third with victory, recall Lee Chapman and Gary Thompson following suspension to replace Dougie Wilson and Eoghan McCawl as they aim to end a decade-long winless run against the north Belfast outfit.

The Reds reinstate goalkeeper David Odumosu, while Conor Pepper and Jonny Addis return to the starting XI following the club's 3-0 victory over Armagh City in the BetMcLean Cup quarter-finals.

Lewis Ridd, Axel Piesold and Ryan Corrigan are the unlucky trio who drop to the bench.

Jim Magilton must make do with a place in the stands as the former Northern Ireland international serves the second of a three-match suspension.

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

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

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Pepper, Addis, Kearney, Hale, Curran, Doherty, Gormley, Glynn, Casey, Steven.

Subs: Ridd, Newberry, Pettifer, Piesold, Markey, Corrigan, Madden.

Image source, BBC Sport