BALLYMENA United are back to league action this weekend as David Jeffery brings his Linfield side to the Warden Street Showgrounds on Saturday.

Games between the sides have had an added friction this season due to Jeffrey's wild accusations against the Ballymena United supporters back in August. Those allegations were proven to be false by both the United board and the IFA, however the damage was seemingly done.

The conflict between the two clubs has seemingly not affected the Windsor Blues though this season as they have won all three clashes so far this season, and also are still in the hunt for their third consecutive Premier League title after having already bagged the League Cup a fortnight ago.

Also it appears that Linfield have made an approach for Ballymena United captain Albert Watson, who will be out of contract in the summer and has stalled on a new improved contract offer. Just to add a bit more spice to an already intriguing tie.

The form book certainly favours the visitors though, as the Sky Blues haven't defeated Linfield at the Showgrounds since 1999 when Alan Fraser’s side produced a stunning 4-2 win, which included a rare Mark Carlisle goal.

It doesn't make impressive reading for the Warden Street faithful as the Blues have won 22 of the previous 30 games since the 1997/98 season. Ballymena have won a miserable three of those games, with five draws.

As previously mentioned Linfield have already won three times in this fixture already this season, starting with a comprehensive 5-1 win in the League Cup back in August, when Darren Fitzgerald scored a consolation goal for Ballymena in what was a humiliating performance.

In the home League Cup group stage tie at the Showgrounds, Linfield ran out 3-0 victors, and a 1-0 win in the reverse league tie back in October at Windsor completed the trio of defeats.

Last weekend the Sky Blues faced League of Ireland side, Derry City, in a friendly at the Brandywell - losing 1-0 on Friday night. The Windsor Blues had a comfortable passage to the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup after defeating Bangor.

In team news, there are question marks over the inclusion of United captain Albert Watson as question marks hang over his future – meanwhile English defender Dean Pooley is expected to make his competitive debut after featuring against Derry City.

Aidan Watson may also come into contention after an injury plagued six months, while Michael Ward is still struggling to recover from a hamstring injury picked up against Cliftonville a few weeks ago.

Linfield will be without influential midfielder Paul McAreavey and defender Kris Lindsay, who both are out injured.

Ex-Players

Ballymena United has only three players who use to ply their trade at Windsor Park, surprising given the misconception that Warden Street is a Linfield retirement home. Midfielders Garth Scates, Stuart King and Mark Picking all played together at the turn of the decade. The injured Nigel Boyd and the management team of Tommy Wright and Jim Grattan all had short spells with the Blues.

Linfield, however have only one former United player; Oran Kearney scored goals wherever he went, and left Ballymena in 2005 to join Linfield – a move entirely justified by a their clean sweep haul of trophies in his first season.