CRUSADERS hope to serve up a pre-Christmas cracker when they host Linfield at Seaview on Saturday.

The north Belfast team sit in second place behind Cliftonville while the Blues are lagging in fifth place and 14 points adrift of the Danske Bank Irish League leaders.

And Crusaders go into the game having beaten David Jeffrey’s men twice already this season.

Linfield need a win to keep them in touch the top four but it could be an uphill struggle as midfielder Michael Gault is suspended.

Cliftonville travel to across town to west Belfast to take on lowly Donegal Celtic who are without striker Mark Miskimmin.

Glentoran hope they are not on a beaten docket when they take on Ballymena Utd at the Oval.

This week the club got a financial shot in the arm when A.McLean bookmakers stepped into stop them from going under.

The Cock ‘N’ Hens are without Jason Hill, Mark Clarke and William Garrett are all banned.

Ballymena have an excellent recent league record at the Oval, winning five times in their last six visits.

Suspension also rules out Portadown forward Darren Murray for the game with basement club Lisburn Distillery at New Grosvenor.

Elsewhere, Coleraine host Ballinamallard United while improving Glenavon make the trip to Dungannon Swifts.

Saturday 22 December

Danske Bank Premiership – all 3pm kick offs:

Coleraine v Ballinamallard Utd

Crusaders v Linfield

Donegal Celtic v Cliftonville

Dungannon Swifts v Glenavon

Glentoran v Ballymena Utd

Lisburn Distillery v Portadown