Kirk Millar and Robert Garrett in action during a game between Linfield and Cliftonville last season

Irish Premiership: Portadown hope to close gap on Linfield

Portadown will hope to close the three-point gap on league leaders Linfield when the teams meet at Windsor Park.

The game is one of two Premiership matches to be played on Saturday, with champions Crusaders hosting Dungannon Swifts in the other.

Crues manager Stephen Baxter expects a tough test from the Swifts.

"Dungannon are a team we have struggled against for five seasons. They work incredibly hard for each other and set up a great shape," said Baxter.

"They have a great tactician in Darren Murphy, who knows the game inside out. I like the way they play and we will give them full respect.

"Darren (Murphy) knows how to set up his team for big matches and they have a lot of strength in depth too."

Baxter revealed that midfielder Chris Morrow is "a couple of weeks away" from returning to action, while Barry Molloy will turn out in a number of reserve games to build up his match fitness.

Meanwhile Swifts boss Murphy wants his squad to aspire to a higher league position, having made survival in the top flight their primary concern in recent years.

LIVE ON RADIO ULSTER

Saturday Sportsond with Michael McNamee will feature coverage of the afternoon's two matches in the Irish Premiership.

Grant Cameron and Chris Morgan will be at Windsor Park for the game between Linfield and Portadown.

Michael Hammond and Stephen Small are at Seaview as champions Crusaders face Dungannon Swifts.

There will also be news of the rest of the day's local and international sport.

Sportsound on Radio Ulster medium wave from 14:00 BST

"I'd like to put a bit of pressure on the players to push towards sixth or seventh. I believe we have the squad to do that.

"I'm happy with the panel I have and we play a nice brand of football at times, we just need to want to win that little bit more."

Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin will have striker Stephen Garrett back in his squad for the trip to Milltown to face Warrenpoint Town on Sunday.

The hosts are still seeking their first point of the campaign, but manager Barry Gray has been broadly pleased with the application of his players.

"It's about building on a better performance in the defeat by Glentoran last week and the wins and the points will come in due course," said Gray.

Ballymena United go into Friday night's fixture against Carrick Rangers at the Showgrounds also chasing a first league point.

Manager Glenn Ferguson has summer signing Mark Magennis available again after a carried over suspension but the midfielder has been struggling with knee and calf injuries and may be short of match fitness.

Defender Johnny Taylor (groin) and Neal Gawley (ankle) both resumed training this week.

Coleraine are without suspended defender David Ogilby as they aim to end a remarkable run of 12 matches without a win against Ballinamallard United.

Ruaidhri Higgins, Lyndon Kane and Neil McCafferty are injured, while Darren McCauley and Sammy Morrow are also fitness concerns for the Bannsiders.

"We have a good squad and I'm confident that we can get better as the season progresses," commented Mallards boss Whitey Anderson, whose side lie eighth with four points from four games.

Glentoran manager Eddie Patterson admits his team have "a bit of work to do" as they prepare to face Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

"We can take some positives from the first few games but the players must realise it can't be switched off and on as and when you want. The workrate was good against Warrenpoint but some of our play was disjointed."