Glenavon travels to the Champions and current league leaders Crusaders on Friday night before hosting Glentoran at Mourneview Park on the following Monday night in the rescheduled game that was called off due to snow on January 31st. Both games will kick-off at 7:45pm.

At the moment Gary Hamilton is concentrating on the first game, at Seaview, which he must face without suspended defenders Rhys Marshall and Simon Kelly after they picked up their 5th cautions of the season. Ciaran Martyn who has just returned to action after a long lay-off following an Achilles operation won’t be risked on the synthetic pitch at Seaview. “Ciaran has done very well since he has come back but it wouldn’t be advisable to play him on such a firm surface ” Gary explained. Kris Lindsay is also unlikely to feature in the starting line-up since his knee swelled up when he last played on a plastic pitch, at Solitude.

“It’s going to be tough without them but we’ll still be going out to win the game, ” the Glenavon boss continued. “We’ll be asking the front half of the team to work really hard, close them down and stop them getting further forward. Our team talk will be emphasising this to the front six.”

Conor Dillon has been on antibiotics for a chest infection after he missed the Irish Cup game last weekend and he didn’t train this week but Gary is hopeful that the defender will be fit to start. Mark Sykes limped off at The Oval on Saturday but the young midfielder, who continues to put in impressive performances every week, has overcome a dead leg.

Mark Sykes leaves the pitch at The Oval last Saturday. Photo by Alan Weir

Meanwhile Gary was happy with the draw for the Tennent’s Irish Cup quarter Final. “All you can ask for is a home draw and to avoid a Premiership team. Loughgall have done very well in the Championship this season and we’ll be taking nothing for granted when they come to Mourneview on 5th March.”