Ballinamallard warmed up for the visit of Linfield with a 5-0 win over Banbridge. While the victory was a boost to confidence, the game will bear little resemblance to the challenge the table toppers will present when they make the journey to Ferney Park on Saturday.

The league’s most successful club have made a perfect start to their season, winning all five of their opening fixtures and averaging more than three goals per game, but Whitey Anderson believes his side can be the first team to dent their 100 per cent record.

“We all know it is going to be a tough game but I believe we can get something from every game,” said the manager. “Linfield are the form side at the moment. They are always going to be challenging for the league and they have the finance to get the best players. They are flying at the present time and we are going to have to play extremely well against them, but we are at home and we got a point against them last year and we will hope to get a result against them this year as well. We drew with them here last season and we should have won it, and we have won at Windsor before. It is eleven against eleven and we will be trying to win the match.” Shane McCabe will miss the game through injury as will Steve Feeney who picked up a groin strain against Banbridge, but James McKenna is available for selection again before the remaining two games of his suspension kick in. For Linfield, two familiar faces are scheduled to make their return to Ferney Park.

Davy Kee has been a regular starter and has impressed the Windsor Park crowd since his transfer, while Stafford has been forced to watch from the sidelines through injury. The former Mallard’s captain made his debut on Tuesday night in the League Cup and will be itching to play a part against his boyhood club, but will have to wait to see if manager Warren Feeney decides to play him from the start. “It will be interesting to see if they will play on Saturday,” admitted Whitey. “I would image they might just be in the squad, but they will be very welcome back here. If they are playing on the pitch, hopefully we can get a result against them.”