WILL it be third time lucky for Ballymena United as they attempt to finally get their 2008/2009 campaign underway against Ballyclare Comrades on Tuesday night in the first round of the County Antrim Shield.

Twice now Roy Walker's side have attempted to begin the domestic season; only to have been stopped firstly by the referee's strike and then by the torrential weather suffered at the weekend.

Yet despite all the hype about the new IFA Premiership, it now looks like the new campaign will begin in the more subdued surroundings of the visit of Championship side, Ballyclare Comrades to the Warden Street venue.

In comparison the Comrades have already kicked off their new league campaign with two defeats in their opening two games to Ards and Donegal Celtic in the new IFA Championship.

Not the best start for Jamesy Kirk's side, but Ballymena United will be very aware of the dangers of taking lower-league sides lightly, given that it was only two seasons ago that Dundela unceremoniously dumped Tommy Wright’s side out at the first round stage.

In fact, the last time the two sides met in the County Antrim Shield was in the first round of the 1997/98 competition - and it was Ballyclare Comrades who came out victorious, 3-2 against Alan Fraser’s side. PJ O’Connell and Barry Patton’s goals weren’t enough to see off the Dixon Park side that evening.

Fortunately, Ballyclare have failed to repeat that victory in the proceeding eleven years – as United have remained undefeated against the Comrades in the ten competitive games played since that Shield encounter; winning seven and drawing three of those games.

The last meeting between the two sides was in March 2003, when 10-man Ballymena defeated their opponents 4-2 at Dixon Park thanks to two goals from Shea Campbell and one apiece for Oran Kearney and Joe Gray.

It's been nearly 30 years since the last time the Braidmen lifted the County Antrim Shield, not since the 1979/80, when Alan Campbell's side claimed their fourth and last Shield victory. However the club have been finalists five times since that last win – the last being in 2006, when Linfield ran out 2-1 winners at Seaview.

Ballyclare Comrades have never won the County Antrim Shield in their history, and the last time they took part in the competition was in 2006/07 when they lost to Crusaders in the first round.

In team news, yet again Kevin Kelbie and Stuart King will be suspended, carried over from last season and yet to be fulfilled due to the two postponed games. Also, Gavin McDonnell remains the only absentee following a foot injury – however he has returned to light training.

Roy Walker will likely give debuts to Alan Blayney, Joe McDonnell and Neil Teggart in his first competitive game in charge, also on loan Bohemians’ winger Michael McGinlay is due to start in midfield alongside Craig McClean – with new signing Liam Hogan taking his full-back berth.

ONE TO WATCH

There will be a bit of family rivalry in Ballyclare this week as Comrades' captain Stuart McClean will come up against brother Craig. The midfielder returned to Dixon Park after a short spell at Crusaders but has established himself as a driving force in the Ballyclare engine room and was instrumental in the Second Division Championship two seasons ago.

PLAYER CONNECTIONS

Current Ballyclare Comrades captain Eddie Hill spent a season at the Showgrounds in 2004/05 under Kenny Shiels - where he made 29 appearances scoring 5 goals, before returning back to his former club the following season. He is also joined by a new recruit to Dixon Park in full-back Andy Long who spent the last few seasons in Ballymena’s successful Reserve side, before leaving at the tail-end of last season.

There are two Ballymena players with connections to the Comrades;Mark Picking who was part of the Ballyclare side that won their first senior trophy back in 1997 when they lifted the Ulster Cup. He since moved onto Coleraine then Linfield and has spent the last three seasons at the Showgrounds.

Full-back Craig McClean is a Ballyclare native, and spent a season with the Championship side upon his return from Nottingham Forest before joining Tommy Wright at the Showgrounds three seasons ago.