Danny Gibson carves open the Coleraine defence, finding Nedas Maciulaitis in the penalty area.

The former Loughgall man has the goal at his mercy but somehow contrives to miss from point-blank range.

A big chance for the hosts early on.

Referee Jamie Robinson blows his whistle to start the action at a sunny but cold Mourneview Park.

Ballymena’s remarkable 10-match winning run in all competitions started against Glenavon back in late August.

Coincidentally, that loss at the Showgrounds was the last time Glenavon tasted defeat as they, too, have stitched together an impressive unbeaten run.

Who will come out on top today?

A very early panic for Linfield as Chris Johns miskicks under pressure from Jordan Stewart who blocks his second attempt at a clearance onto the Shore Road.

The Stephen Baxter era is underway at the Loughshore Arena.

Linfield get us underway attacking the Railway End as we are currently in between the hail showers that plagued the warm-ups.

The hailstones have thankfully given way to blue skies at the Oval as John McGovern gets the action underway.

Paddy McLaughlin
Sportsound summariser

To see the Linfield bench so young is strange. It is brilliant to see the young players getting the opportunity, but they haven't really got a household name on the bench to change things if things aren't going their way.

Glenavon striker David McDaid admits he had a "chip on his shoulder" after his move to Mourneview Park in the summer.

The 33-year-old struggled for minutes at Ballymena United and Coleraine in recent years, but is the Lurgan Blues' top scorer with four goals in all competition.

Glenavon are unbeaten in nine games in all competitions and take on Irish Premiership leaders Ballymena United at Mourneview Park on Saturday.

"It's been a breath of fresh air and I'm really enjoying being back on the pitch," said McDaid, who said the atmosphere in the changing room at club was "phenomenal".

"At times last year you would think in your head, 'I'm getting on a bit here, might I pack it in?'.

"At the same time you have that chip on your shoulder where you want to prove a point.

"That's what my aim was this year, to show I can still play at 33. I still feel like I have a bit left in me yet."

McDaid struck an injury-time winner on Saturday in the first Mid-Ulster derby of the season with Portadown.

Having played in the derby for the first time, McDaid admitted he was surprised by how fierce a rivalry it is.

"I didn't realise how big that derby was, or how important it was to both clubs and the fans.

"It was nearly like a cup final atmosphere."

Image source, Pacemaker Press

As well as today's Irish Premiership games, you won't need reminding that Northern Ireland are in Nations League action against Belarus which kicks off in Hungary at 19:45 BST.

Follow live text commentary and radio coverage of the Uefa Nations League group C clash on the BBC Sport NI website and on BBC Sounds.

Image source, BBC Sport

Coleraine have revealed that a 24-year-old property developer has joined the club as its latest financial backer.

Henry Ross's support adds to the Irish Premiership club's list of investors, headed by current owners Ranald McGregor-Smith and Patrick Mitchell.

Coleraine adopted a full-time model from the start of this season as a result of the substantial investment commitment they have received.

"This partnership reflects Coleraine FC’s strategic vision of engaging local talent and community support, driving progress in all aspects of the club. Notably, Henry is now among the youngest owners of a football club worldwide," read a statement released by the club.

Henry commented: "Growing up in the local area, I’m thrilled to have the chance to contribute to the club. Even at this early stage, I’ve met incredible people and immediately connected with the values of the co-owners.

"It was a no-brainer for me. Football clubs are complex, with countless variables at play. With Coleraine’s transition to professional football, it’s a fascinating journey, full of challenges, but I love being part of it. I enjoy watching the team play, whether it’s a sold-out home game or a Tuesday night away win in Ballinamallard."

"Henry’s passion for Coleraine FC is clear, and we are thrilled to welcome him into the Coleraine family," said Simon Magee, CEO of Coleraine FC. "His involvement will be instrumental as we build on our rich heritage and pursue excellence."

And speaking of Ballymena, two teams who have run into form collide head-on at Mourneview Park.

Glenavon make one change from the side which beat Portadown in the league a week ago with Jamie Doran starting in place of Harry Lynch.

Ballymena boss names the same team which beat Loughgall last Saturday and also started the midweek County Antrim Shield win over Cliftonville.

Glenavon were also in midweek action in the Mid-Ulster Cup where manager Stephen McDonnell made a raft of changes.

Will Glenavon's fresh legs prevail or will continuity win the day for Ballymena?

Glenavon: Deane, Marshall, McKeown, Carroll, O'Sullivan, Quinn, Malone, Snoddy, Doran, Campbell, McDaid.

Subs: Byrne, Toure, Doona, Lynch, Atherton, O'Connor, Wilson.

Ballymena United: O'Neill, Rocks, McCallion, Nelson, Lafferty, Jarvis, Carson, Kennedy, Scott, Moore, McCurry.

Subs: Johnston, Brown, O'Donnell, Gawne, McMurray, Stewart, Devlin.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ballymena United's march to the top of the table after four opening defeats was the big talking point in this season's Irish League until Mr Baxter's return to the game.

But we mustn't forget the remarkable turnaround in Ballymena's fortunes under manager Jim Ervin.

There is no better man that my colleague Richard Petrie, himself a proud Ballymena man, to explain how it has all come about.

Read more here.

Image source, Inpho

These two meet again for the second time in a week after Crusaders' 3-2 County Antrim Shield win on Tuesday night. Declan Caddell's men have recovered from their mid-September slump and will look to win four in a row in all competitions.

They make two changes from last week's win over Coleraine with match-winner Jordan Stewart in from the start and Jimmy Callacher is in against his former club.

David Healy will be looking to avoid three defeats in a row and also makes two changes from last Friday's Big Two reversal. In come Josh Archer and Matthew Orr for Charlie Allen and Jamie Mulgrew. It is a very young and inexperienced bench for the Blues with five players with squad numbers in the 70s!

Crusaders: Tuffey, Callacher, Weir (C), Stewart, Blaney, Forsythe, O'Rourke, Offord, Clarke, Franklin, Barr

Subs: Kerr, Lowry, Teelan, Williamson, Owens, Smith, Vance

Linfield: Johns, East, Whiteside, Shields (C), Millar, McClean, Cooper, Archer, McGee, Fitzpatrick, Orr

Subs: Walsh, Ballantyne, McGarry, Leacock, Burns, Watson, Farr

Image source, BBC Sport

Crusaders boss Declan Caddell says he always knew his former manager Stephen Baxter would return to the Irish Premiership.

Baxter was announced as Carrick Rangers manager on Monday after the departure of Stuart King.

Baxter, 59, left Crusaders in the summer after 19 years in charge at Seaview.

"I knew after a month or two off that he would miss it dearly. It's such a big part of his life," said Caddell, who spent his entire playing career under Baxter before replacing him in the Seaview dugout.

"It's probably fine over the summer where he could get away and play some golf and relax, which was well deserved.

"But when the nitty gritty starts when the season starts, and league starts, then he'd start to miss it."

Caddell added that Irish League management is in Baxter "DNA" and he expects him to turn the club's fortunes around.

"He has so much to give the Irish League," added Caddell.

"I think Carrick is a great place for him with a good squad and good players.

"They have that ambition for the future. It's a new project for him. He's refreshed and recharged, and he's ready to go again.

"He has so much to give the Irish League and it's good to see him on board again.

"He still has that hunger and that never goes away. I expect him to have a big impact there."

Image source, Inpho

Newly appointed manager Stephen Baxter makes just one alteration to the Carrick Rangers starting XI that defeated Cliftonville last weekend with Joe Crowe replacing David Cushley, who drops to the bench.

Meanwhile there are three changes to the Coleraine side who were defeated by Crusaders last weekend with Graham Kelly, Ciaron Harkin and Rhyss Campbell replacing Kyle McClelland, Jamie McGonigle and Alfie Gaston.

Carrick Rangers: Glendinning, Forsythe, C. Stewart, Maciulaitis, McCullough, Buchanan-Rolleston, Clucas, Crowe, Cherry, Heatley, Gibson

Subs: McCauley, Surgenor, Cushley, McGuckin, Allen, Andrews, Given.

Coleraine: Little, Scott, Kelly, Stewart, Jarvis, Boyle, Harkin, Glackin, Murray, Shevlin, Campbell.

Subs: Brown, Gaston, Spence, Carse, McGonigle, Devine, Smith.

Image source, BBC Sport

Stephen Baxter says his mission at Taylors Avenue will be to move the club away from the relegation zone - with currently only Loughgall below in the table.

"The main objective is to get yourself out of that danger zone and try to push up the table as soon as possible. Carrick are in that position now but let's see where we are in six to eight weeks," Baxter told BBC Sport NI on Tuesday.

"The work that Stuart King did was exceptional - there's a nucleus of a good squad, good talented players and one or two good young players."

Read more here.

Image source, Carrick Rangers FC

They say if it's not broken why fix it and, with the two sides coming into this game after convincing league victories last weekend, it's maybe unsurprising that both managers stick with their last league starting XI. Although, it might make my team news the shortest of all time!

Striker Jay Donnelly, who netted during the home side's impressive 3-1 victory against Linfield last weekend, will be looking to score in his third consecutive game after adding to his tally against Carrick Rangers in the County Antrim Shield midweek.

Rodney McAree's side moved up to third in the table after a comfortable victory against Larne on Sunday. Stopper Patrick Solis Grogan has conceded just one goal in the five league games he has started this season and will be keen to keep this impressive stat going this afternoon at the Oval.

Glentoran: Gyollai, Kane, Hvid, McClean, Amos, Sule, Connolly, Palmer, Singleton, Donnelly, Fisher.

Subs: Mills, Lyons-Foster, Parfitt, Lindsay, Jenkins, Wassim, Thorndike.

Dungannon Swifts: Grogan, S. Scott, Knowles, McGovern, Dillon, Alves, Glenny, McGinty (C), Maguire, Wallace, Bigirimana

Subs: Henderson, J. Scott, King, Boyd, Galvin, Hutchinson, Mitchell.

Image source, BBC Sport

Before you place any late bets on today's action, why not take a look at our guest predictor this week, former Ballinamallard manager Harry McConkey.

Carrick Rangers v Coleraine - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

I think this is going to be close. We have to factor in the Stephen Baxter factor and the bounce a new boss brings, but Coleraine have plenty of firepower and are capable of scoring goods.

Prediction: I'm expecting goals - 2-2.

Crusaders v Linfield - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

This is such a hard one to call. Crusaders won in the County Antrim Shield on Tuesday, but I expect this to be a completely different affair. Linfield will have the Joel Cooper factor, which was sorely missing on Tuesday, but the Crues are now in a more confident place after a couple of good wins. However, it’s important that David Healy’s side get back on track and I think they will.

Prediction: 2-1 win for Linfield.

Glenavon v Ballymena United - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

The seems obvious to call this one a Ballymena United win, but I don’t think it’ll be as clear cut as that. Glenavon had great 2-1 win in the mid-Ulster derby last week and they’ll be hoping to build on that. Ballymena United are on an incredible run and they’re in a great place. While that has to come to an end eventually, I don’t think it’ll end this weekend.

Prediction: Ballymena United to win 3-2.

Glentoran v Dungannon Swifts - Saturday 15:00 BST (live on Sportsound on Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds)

Glentoran followed up their great victory against Linfield with a win in the Shield on Tuesday night. While it hasn’t always been free flowing football, the Glens have got some positive results. As for Dungannon Swifts, they have impressed me with their togetherness, both at home and away. John McGovern has been a great addition to Rodney McAree’s side.

Prediction: Too close to call so I’m going to sit on the fence – 1-1.

Portadown v Loughgall - Saturday 17:30 BST

I think this should be another great mid-Ulster Derby. I was at Lakeview Park when the sides shared four goals earlier in the season. At the minute Dean Smith’s side are struggling to replicate last season’s form. They had a good win against Annagh in midweek, but Portadown - with Ryan Mayse - will be a tough nut to crack.

Prediction: Given home advantage I’ll for a 2-1 Ports win.

Don't forget to join Harry and Eric White on Sportsound this week from 14:00 BST on Saturday for all the latest from the Irish Premiership. Available on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Sounds and on the BBC Sport website.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here is what in store in the Irish Premiership today.

Image source, BBC Sport

We could scarcely have contemplated the Irish Premiership being any more intriguing with Ballymena United on top and Dungannon Swifts in third spot before Stephen Baxter upstaged them both by returning to management when taking over as Carrick Rangers boss on Monday evening.

As he hinted might be the case, Baxter's absence from the Irish League proved a brief affair and he will be back in an Irish League dugout this afternoon as Carrick host Coleraine.

Following Stuart King's exit, Carrick already moved off bottom spot when ending a run of eight straight defeats by shocking Cliftonville last weekend.

The aforementioned Ballymena will aim to stay on top as they travel to ninth-placed Glenavon with Rodney McAree's Swifts also on the road as they face his former side Glentoran at the Oval.

If the Braidmen don't win this afternoon, Linfield would go back top by beating Crusaders at Seaview while the evening game is an Armagh derby as Portadown host Loughgall at the Showgrounds.

We will have live text commentary, in-play clips, a report and reaction to the five games.

Thanks for joining us - enjoy!

Image source, Carrick Rangers