After Tuesday's outstanding victory over Glentoran - Ballymena will look to make it three wins in a row against lowly Glenavon this Saturday at Mourneview Park.

The Sky Blues go into the game looking for their fifth win in seven games, whilst Saturday's hosts will be hoping that 2007 delievers more than the year past has given them. The Lurgan Blues, once one of the major forces in Northern Irish football finished a lowly 13th in their first season back in the Premier League last season - which is also the position they find themselves in going into this weekend's game. However, they claimed a credible draw away to Dungannon on New Year's Day - and will be looking to build on that as they prepare for the second half of the season. Colin Malone has been the most active in the January transfer window out of all the Irish League bosses so far bringing in Barry Meehan (Armagh), Stephen Caffery (St. Pats Athletic) and William McFrederick from Ballymena amongst others.

Mourneview hasn't been a good hunting ground for Glenavon this season, as they haven't won at home since October - and haven't beaten Ballymena United at home since February 2001, when Glenavon defeated the Skies 3-1 in the Seventh Round replay of the Irish Cup; when Dean Smith scored twice and Marc McCann got one for Glenavon with Simon McNicholl scoring a late consolation. Last season, the same fixture resulted in a 2-2 draw towards the end of the season, with Kevin Kelbie and Rory Hamill grabbing the goals. The reverse fixture resulted in a shock 3-2 win for Glenavon. The two sides have already met this season, on the opening day of the league when Ballymena claimed a 4-2 win, with an exhilerating second half display; with goals from Scates, Picking, Kelbie and Darren Murphy.

Tuesday night's win, however, came at a price for United boss Tommy Wright - as Aidan Watson will definitely miss the trip to County Armagh with a broken wrist, while Randal Reid and Darren Murphy are also major doubts after picking up injuries against Glentoran. Gavin Melaugh will come into the squad, and could make his debut. Kevin Kelbie will likely start up front after two goals against his former team, and Austin Friel may return to the fourteen in place of Reid.

Travel Arrangements

The Seven Towers Supporters' Club will be running a bus to the game, which will be leaving from the Moat Bar, in Harryville - departing at approximately 1.30pm. It is yet to be known if the Paradise SC will be running a bus as well.

Key Player

Trinidad and Tobago International, Atiba Charles (pictured) was a shock signing in August by Glenavon. Charles, had travelled to the FIFA World Cup in the summer with his country and the central defender has over twenty caps. He was brought over by former Blues captain, Aaron Black, who played with him in the Caribbean. Charles took time to adapt to the Northern Irish game but has shown glimpses of his class in Glenavon's struggling side this season.

Ex-Players

The only Glenavon player that has appeared for Ballymena United is goalkeeper Paul Rice, who made a single appearance during at the start of the 1999-2000 season when he had been signed on a short term loan from Distillery. Glenavon, last week signed United's third choice goalkeeper - William McFrederick. On the Ballymena side; Midfielder, Darren Murphy spent six years at Mourneview Park in the late-ninties, before joining Linfield in 2001. Second-choice goalkeeper, Stuart Addis also spent four years between the sticks at the Lurgan Blues between 1998 and 2002, he joined Newry Town when he left Glenavon.

Previous Meetings

DATE	COMPETITION	HOME TEAM	SCORE	AWAY TEAM
23-09-06	Premier League	Ballymena United	4-2	Glenavon
18-04-06	Premier League	Glenavon	2-2	Ballymena United
17-12-05	Premier League	Ballymena United	2-3	Glenavon
10-09-05	League Cup	Glenavon	1-2	Ballymena United
25-08-05	League Cup	Ballymena United	1-0	Glenavon

Form Guide

	BALLYMENA UNITED	GLENAVON
LEAGUE POSITION	9th - 22 points	13th - 13 points
TOP SCORER	Kevin Kelbie (8)	Nathan McConnell (6)
FORM (LAST SIX MATCHES)	WWDLWW	WDLLLD
BIGGEST WIN	4-2 v. Glenavon (h)	9-1 v. Killymoon Rangers (h)
BIGGEST DEFEAT	1-3 v. Portadown (a)	1-5 v. Linfield (a)