Coleraine FC face a key away test against Larne on Friday night as they aim to protect their position at the top of the Premiership. The match at Inver Park kicks off at 19:45 and pits the league leaders against a side in rampant form.
Coleraine sit first with 28 points from 11 games, holding a three-point cushion over Linfield. Their recent form shows four wins from their last five outings, including a 1-0 victory over Cliftonville last time out where Shevlin scored the winner in the 67th minute. Their next fixture after this top of the table clash is a home match against Glentoran on Tuesday night.
Larne enter the contest on a four-match winning streak. Their recent results include a 3-0 win over Crusaders and a 5-2 thrashing of Carrick Rangers. They have scored 12 goals during this four-game run.
The last meeting between these sides ended in a 0-0 draw back in August. Coleraine's squad for this key match is expected to be built around the core that secured recent wins, with players like Shevlin, Thomson and Patching key.
With Larne sitting third in the standings, this fixture represents a direct challenge to Coleraine's title credentials. A positive result would solidify their lead ahead of the next phase of the season, while a defeat could see their advantage at the top cut significantly with other contenders waiting to capitalise.
