Glentoran a 'massive threat' - Larne boss Haveron

Larne boss Gary Haveron expects Glentoran will "come and have a go" when the sides meet at Inver Park on Friday (19:45 GMT) in a game that will be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

The Inver Park side are second in the table on goal difference and are unbeaten in their previous eight league games.

Glentoran are eight points behind in fourth after an inconsistent run, but Haveron is wary of the attacking talent the Glens possess as the two teams prepare to meet for the first time this season.

"They're a massive threat and they'll come here and have a go, you have to when you're a team like Glentoran," Haveron told BBC Sport NI.

"They'll not sit off us, they'll come here and try win the game and that's what we want, two teams to come out and have a go, it sets up a really interesting game."

Larne enjoyed victories over leaders Coleraine and fellow top-half side Dungannon Swifts during their winning run in November, and they began December with a 0-0 home draw against champions Linfield.

Haveron is hopeful for another positive result against the Glens to help Larne keep pace at the top of the table despite their difficult run of fixtures.

"We've had a big month; we had Coleraine, then Dungannon, then coming into the Blues and the Glens off the back of each other, it's four tough games against the top four teams in the league," he added.

"They're all going to be nip and tuck, there isn't going to be much in it. Right now, we're seven [points] from nine, if you told me that at the start of the run I would have taken it."

Glentoran assistant Paddy McCourt wants his side to build on their dominant second-half display against Cliftonville last weekend, where they fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at the Oval.

"Larne away is a big game, always a tough game," he said.

"We're going into it off the back of a really good second-half performance and hopefully that will give us confidence going into the game."