Coleraine host Glentoran at upgraded Showgrounds

Coleraine head coach Ruaidhri Higgins insists his players must ignore the noise surrounding Duncan Ferguson when the Bannsiders host Glentoran on Friday night.

A huge crowd is expected at the Showgrounds for what already was a big game between two of the leading sides in the Boyle Sports Premiership.

However, the arrival of the former Scotland international has only ramped up interest in a game which will be broadcast live on the BBC I Player.

Speaking ahead of the match, Higgins said he wanted his players to remain focused on the job in hand - bagging the three points - and not get caught up in the hype.

Ferguson’s first game in charge of the Glens was meant to be last Saturday at home to Ballymena United but Storm Boelo put paid to that.

Now, all eyes are focused on Ballycastle Road and a big game at the top end of the table.

Coleraine struck late on to beat Glentoran at the Oval in the clubs’ first meeting earlier in the campaign in what was a tight affair between two evenly matched teams.

The last occasions they played each other at the Showgrounds was on the final day of last season when the home side ran out comfortable 6-2 winners.

It’s unlikely we’ll see a similar score on Friday night as the visitors will undoubtedly benefit from the new manager ‘bounce.’

What is guaranteed, though, is a high octane contest on the pitch - with plenty of intrigue off it.