David Jeffrey
Former Linfield & Ballymena manager on BBC iPlayer

It's going to be a tough task for Matthew Shelvin this evening up against that Larne defence.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Almost 10 minutes gone at the Showgrounds where visitors Larne have settled well, dominating possession and creating two reasonable chances.

Coleraine yet to get going in an attacking sense.

Matthew Fitzpatrick meets a Kirk Millar corner with a powerful header but can't keep his effort on target.

More goalmouth action as Crusaders' Josh Williamson loses possession deep inside his own half.

Kyle McClean strides forward and fires a low shot which squirms below the grasp of Jonny Tuffey but, thankfully for the Crusaders keeper, squeezes just wide of the target.

It's been quite the opening few minutes at Windsor Park!

In the County Antrim Shield semi-final, Joe Gormely is denied an early goal for Cliftonville as the offside flag goes up.

A second save in as many minutes for Coleraine keeper Aidan Harris.

Tiarnan O'Connor this time turns provider, fizzing a low cross in from the right.

Leroy Millar, up in support from midfield, gets his foot to the ball but it's a simple enough save for the on-loan Newcastle United man.

Straight away at the other end, Elliot Dunlop makes strides down the left flank and cuts the back for the in-rushing Fraser Bryden but the league's leading goalscorer flashes a shot wide.

A first sight of goal for the visitors as Tiarnan O'Connor jinks on to his right foot and sends his shot goal wards.

Coleraine goalkeeper Aidan Harris is well positioned to safely gather the ball.

Crusaders skipper Jarlath O'Rourke attempts to shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick, but Charlie Allen picks his pocket on the bye-line and knocks the ball to Kirk Millar, but his cross is deflected into keeper Jonny Tuffey's hands.

Will Patching drives forward from midfield before slipping the ball to Matthew Shevlin, who loses his balance just as he is about to shoot.

Referee Tim Marshall starts the action at a chilly Windsor Park.

Recent history certainly favours Linfield in this fixture – they’ve won the last eight league meetings between the sides over the past two seasons.

Chris Gallagher gets us under way on a dry but bitterly cold night by the banks of the Bann.

The two teams have met once before this season - here on the opening weekend - when a late Joel Cooper goal was enough to secure a hard earned 1-0 win for the hosts.

Can Coleraine complete the double over tonight's visitors - or will Larne leapfrog their hosts with victory in front of the BBC cameras?

Tonight, the top two face off as Larne travel north to take on Coleraine.

Both north Belfast clubs are in action this evening as Linfield host Crusaders and Cliftonville take on Ballymena United in the County Antrim Shield semi-final.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC iPlayer

You can now watch tonight's match between Coleraine and Larne on the BBC iPlayer and by clicking the 'Watch live' icon at the top of the page.

Michael Clarke and David Jeffrey are on commentary duties tonight.

Linfield make one change from Saturday's narrow win at Bangor with Charlie Allen - a substitute at Clandeboye Park - swapping places with Josh Archer.

That means defenders Ben Hall and Ethan McGee have to settle for a place on the bench on their return from suspensions.

There's no such hesitation from Crusaders boss Declan Caddell in unleashing the league's top scorer Fraser Bryden straight into the starting line-up on his return from the sin bin.

Finley Thorndike is the player to make way in Crusaders' only change from their 2-2 draw at Ballymena at the weekend.

Linfield: Johns, Brown, Whiteside, Roscoe, McCullough, Baird, McClean, Allen, Millar, McKee, Fitzpatrick.

Subs: Walsh, McGee, Hall, Yates, Taylor, Morrison, Archer.

Crusaders: Tuffey, K Forsythe, Odhran McCart, O'Rourke, Hamilton, Wiliamson, Anderson, Clarke, Dunlop, Brooks, Bryden.

Subs: Dibaga, Blaney, Thorndike, Easton, J Forsythe, Olibhear McCart, Barr.

Image source, BBC Sport

We may be just a third of the way through the fixture list but there's certainly an argument to be made that this is the biggest game of the season to date.

League leaders Coleraine enjoy a slender one-point advantage over tonight's opponents, Larne, who, crucially, have played two games less than the Showgrounds' side.

Bannsiders' boss Ruaidhri Higgins makes two changes to the team which started Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Cliftonville as Dean Jarvis and Lewis McGregor drop to the bench and are replaced by club captain Lyndon Kane and Levi Ives.

Larne manager Gary Haveron also makes two changes from the side which defeated Glenavon 2-1 last time out.

Experienced midfielder Mark Randall is suspended following his sending off against the Lurgan Blues while Paul O'Neill starts his evening among the replacements.

In their place come Christopher Gallagher, back after suspension, and Ryan Nolan.

Coleraine: Harris, Kane (c), Boyle, Lyons-Foster, Patching, Shevlin, Cooper, Ives, Glackin, Dunne, McDonald.

Subs: Webb, Jarvis, McGregor, Doherty, Okoro, McManus, Devlin.

Larne: Ferguson, Ridley, Donnelly, McKendry, O'Connor, S. Graham, Nolan, Millar, Cosgrove (c), Bent.

Subs: D. Graham, O'Neill, Magee, McEneff, Lusty, Wallace, Simpson.

Image source, BBC Sport

Linfield manager David Healy says his side's 1-0 victory over Bangor at Clandeboye Park on Saturday was a "big win".

Despite Bangor having the best chance of the first half and making a bright start to the second, Matthew Fitzpatrick netted the only goal of the game on 55 minutes.

The result was Linfield's second on the road of the season with their only other victory away from home also came against Bangor.

"We are obviously pleased to win," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"I have seen Bangor so many games over the last five years, so I am sort of proud of their progress and, in an unselfish way, you feel a bit disappointed you beat a team like Bangor.

"Bangor are so well drilled and such a threat. It was such a big win for us today."

Image source, Inpho

Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton says that Rory Hale's goal was 'top class' and praised his side's work ethic, attitude and application during their 1-0 victory against Coleraine at Solitude on Saturday.

The Reds broke the deadlock just before the break when Rory Hale converted Keevan Hawthorne's pass.

"In the end, you can take a deep breath when the game is over," Magilton told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought the goal we scored was a really top-class goal and if you watch football all weekend, you might not see a better goal in terms of the way we moved, passed the ball and Rory's finish.

"We dug in so well. I thought our work ethic, attitude and our application were outstanding and another clean sheet [their fourth in a row in the league]."

Image source, Pacemaker

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins cut a frustrated figure after Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Cliftonville at Solitude prevented the Bannsiders from stretching their lead at the top of the table.

Looking ahead to this evening's game against second place Larne, Higgins told BBC Sport NI: "We don't have loads of time to feel sorry for ourselves; we've a big game on Tuesday.

"It's a game against a really good team. I'm glad because we have a chance to bounce back straight away.

"We need to get ready to play a good side who are having a brilliant season.

"We'll be going all out at home to get the three points, but we're also aware we're coming up against good opposition and need to get prepared for the game."

Image source, Inpho

Following Friday's come-from-behind 2-1 win over Glenavon, Larne manager Gary Haveron's attention quickly turned to this evening's trip to league leaders Coleraine.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Haveron said: "It’s a big game, but every game is big in this league.

"I don’t underestimate anyone or treat one game as bigger than another.

"We’re only just getting through the first round of fixtures, and there’s a long way to go.

"Nothing gets decided on Tuesday night, but we’ll go down there with a chance to put ourselves top of the league, and they’ll see it as a chance to open a gap.

"There’s a lot to play for."

Image source, Inpho