It is the final round of Sports Direct Irish Premiership fixtures before Christmas and there are some festive crackers for fans to get their teeth into.
The game of the weekend sees Jim Magilton’s Cliftonville host Glentoran, as the Reds hope to get back to winning ways after an indifferent couple of weeks.
Portadown also welcome Crusaders to fortress Shamrock Park in the other eye-catching game on Saturday, while on Monday night second-placed Dungannon Swifts welcome reigning league champions Larne to Stangmore Park in what is sure to be an enticing tie.
So pull on your Christmas jumpers, grab a hot chocolate and read on for this week’s runners and riders; and the all-important predictions and betting odds.
SATURDAY (3PM KICK-OFF)
Cliftonville v Glentoran
Defeat to Portadown last week following a draw with Larne has left Cliftonville on the back foot in the title race. They have slipped to third in the table and are a whopping 13 points behind leaders Linfield, so manager Magilton will be desperate to get back to winning ways against an improving Glentoran side.
Declan Devine’s troops are unbeaten in four games as they appear to be finding some consistency. Wins against Linfield and Crusaders in their last two league games will have filled the east Belfast side full of confidence ahead of their trip to Solitude.
The sides last met back in August when an early Jordan Jenkins strike earned the Glens a 1-0 win, but it has been almost three years since they won in north Belfast and they will have a tough task come Saturday afternoon.
Odds: Home: 6/5 Draw: 23/10 Away: 9/5
Prediction: Cliftonville
Linfield v Glenavon
The Blues’ win over Dungannon midweek has left them sitting pretty with a huge 11-point lead at the top of the table and will fancy their chances of turning over Paddy McLaughlin’s Glenavon team.
However, don’t write off the Lurgan side who may occupy 10th in the table but are fresh from an impressive 3-1 win over Crusaders on Tuesday night. McLaughlin has instilled a steely nature in the team already and green shoots are emerging.
Linfield will start the game as favourites and rightly so given they haven’t lost to Glenavon in their last 10 outings. Perhaps this one has come a couple of weeks too early for the Lurgan Blues and a home win is expected for David Healy’s men.
Odds: Home: 1/5 Draw: 9/2 Away: 9/1
Prediction: Linfield
Loughgall v Ballymena United
Basement side Loughgall may have had a miserable season so far, but they have managed two credible draws against Glentoran and Carrick Rangers in their last two fixtures. Up next is a Ballymena side that are in a miserable run of form, having lost four of their last five games.
If you are inclined to have a flutter on this one, a draw might not be where the smart money is. Unbelievably, after 19 games United still have not had a draw this season.
Both sides will look at this game as offering the potential to grab three points and turn their season around, with Ballymena perhaps starting as slight favourites.
Odds: Home: 2/1 Draw: 23/10 Away: 11/10
Prediction: Ballymena United
Portadown v Crusaders
In-form Portadown sit proudly in fourth position and a win could lift them as high as second come Saturday evening.
Niall Currie’s men have only lost one of their last seven fixtures, and grabbed an impressive 2-0 win over Cliftonville last time out.
The Crues on the other hand are still adapting to life post Stephen Baxter as they have suffered four defeats of their last seven in all competitions. Back in September the Ports stunned Seaview with a 3-0 win over their hosts and they will be hoping to repeat the trick at fortress Shamrock Park on Saturday.
Odds: Home: 8/5 Draw: 23/10 Away: 7/5
Prediction: Portadown
MONDAY (7.45PM KICK-OFF)
Dungannon Swifts v Larne
Second-placed Dungannon may have lost 1-0 to Linfield on Tuesday evening, but they can hold their heads high after matching the Blues for most of the game.
Rodney McAree has the Tyrone side playing beautiful football as ever, but unlike previous seasons they are now also hard to score against.
Larne are going through much transition and the move to exchange the roles of Nathan Rooney and Gary Haveron, speaks of a team struggling to reach the peaks they have shown in their two championship-winning years.
Haveron’s side is fully-loaded with talent and will be pleased to finally have Leroy Millar back and available, but McAree is a wily manager and he will see the visitors as being there for the taking. This one is sure to be a tight affair.
Odds: Home: 13/5 Draw: 9/4 Away: 10/11
Prediction: Draw