Larne defender Tomas Cosgrove is hoping for “another good Friday under the lights” as the champions host Glentoran at Inver Park on Friday night.
The Inver Reds have struggled to find consistent form since they belatedly started their defence of the Gibson Cup after qualifying for the group stages of the Uefa Conference League.
Tiernan Lynch’s side have just one win in four matches, scoring only two goals in the process.
However, Cosgrove is optimistic their fortunes will change against the Glens and that a win can revitalise their impressive home form of recent times.
“Hopefully it’s another good Friday for us under the lights, we seem to do well in those games,” said Cosgrove, who has been an ever-present figure in Larne’s two title-winning campaigns.
“I just think it’s a bit of everything at the minute, it’s just not falling for us and maybe with the games in Europe, because we were the team that were sitting in and to get that turnaround [in the league]and be the more offensive team, it’s maybe taken its toll on us a wee bit, but we’ll get there.
“Hopefully we can hit the ground running, maybe score a few goals.”
Glens ‘confident’ ahead of Inver test
A win away to the champions on Friday would see Glentoran move top of the Irish Premiership, two points above Belfast rivals Linfield and Cliftonville, who are level on 14 points and play on Saturday.
The Glens returned to winning ways on Tuesday night with a 2-0 victory over Loughgall at the Oval.
Determined to back up their return to form, summer signing Dylan Connolly feels that victory has brought the confidence they need to challenge Larne.
“That’s what wins do, they help gain confidence and gain morale in the dressing room,” said Connolly, who joined the Glens from Bohemians for an undisclosed fee in July.
“We need it come Friday night, it’s another massive game, so we need all the confidence and morale we can get and [Loughgall] is a good win to go into another hard game.”