Higgins wary of Crues challenge as Irish Cup ties get underway

Coleraine head coach Ruaidhri Higgins says he and his players must be prepared for a 'dangerous' game against Crusaders in the Irish Cup on Friday night.

The teams have met twice before in the league this season - Coleraine winning convincingly on both occasions.

But that will have little bearing on what happens in front of the BBC cameras under the lights at the Showgrounds as the fifth round of the competition gets underway.

"It's a very dangerous game," warned the Bannsiders' boss.

"They're in the best form that they've been in all season and some of the football that they played against Dungannon was exceptional.

"They've got so many young talented attacking players, they're littered with them really.

"They've got so much talent and they're coming to the fore now so we need to be ready.

"It's an extremely dangerous game and they'll get our full respect. They're flying and we have to be ready for it," he added.

The hosts go into the game on the back of a damaging defeat at Larne in the league last time out while the Crues made it three games unbeaten with victory over Dungannon Swifts at Seaview.

The league's leading marksman Fraser Bryden made it 14 for the season in that game but Coleraine boast attacking firepower of their own in the shape of Matthew Shevlin and Joel Cooper who have both netted 12 times.

Friday's game may present Ruaidhri Higgins with the opportunity of refreshing his team, not least because of injury.

Club captain Lyndon Kane and Jamie Glackin miss out through injury while there are fears that winger Lewis McGregor's season may be over because of a serious thigh injury.

Better news, however, is that Dylan Boyle is available again, the midfielder sitting out the last three league games because of suspension following his red card in the loss to Glentoran at the Oval.

Charles Dunne is free to play after an accumulation of five yellow cards saw him miss the trip to Larne while former Derry City skipper Mark Connolly may get further game time after featuring at Inver Park.

Former Shelbourne captain Mark Coyle could get some minutes after joining the club this week, as might teenager Senan Devine who has been recalled from a successful loan spell at H&W Welders.