Doc returns as duo miss Carrick Rangers test

The match at the Riverside Stadium sees two unbeaten sides come up against other and Kee feels their Waterside derby was the perfect tonic for his team.

“I told the players before the Newbuildings game, that it would be brilliant preparation for the Carrick game and that’s what happened,” insisted Kee.

“The Carrick and Newbuildings matches our the type of games you want to be playing in, were it’s high in emotion, high in intensity, tackles where flying in and it was just like a typical Championship match.

“Now that was credit to Newbuildings and I gave them a bit of credit, because I played a strong team, as I prepare for the Carrick game.”

The ’Stute gaffer also believes that this weekend’s clash is the match of the day, as fellow unbeaten men Dundela, who sit at the top of the Championship One table, should collect another three points as they travel to lowly Dergview.

“Ourselves against Carrick is a top Championship game and it will probably get top billing. It’s two teams that are expected to be up there, so all the players will want to be playing in these type of games,” he added.

“Because Dundela have won four out of four everyone has rightfully being talking about them, while Carrick have drew their last two games and I’m sure they’ll be disappointed about that, but we have to worry about what we have to do.

“If we can play with courage and the confidence that we’ll need, which we are getting from players at the minute, then hopefully we’ll be alright.

“There has been very few teams in the Championship in the last year who have battered us, there has been one or two games where we have maybe found it tight, but on the whole we have done quite well in terms of every game.

“But we need to keep that going this year and the league won’t be lost on Saturday if we lose, but I would like us to set a bench mark for the coming games, so we have to go for the win and that’s what we’ll be doing.”

’Stute have now won their last five matches and go into their match against Michael Hughes’ side full of confidence.

“Winning makes players and sides confident going into games,” admitted Kee.

“We have won most of our games, in fact we have won every game apart from the Lisburn Distillery game, but we have had good ownership of games, good consideration, we have had an offensive threat, we have tried to play the game the right way.

“For me it’s all about getting control and for large parts of all our games we have had control of the game.

“To take control of matches you have to take risks and we are prepared to take risks, sometimes we’ll give the ball away, but I want us to be an entertaining team, who are recognised for playing a good brand of football.”

’Stute will welcome back Michael Doherty, after he sat out Friday night’s game against Newbuildings United, but duo Michael McCrudden and Stephen Parkhouse continue to miss out with a knee and back problem respectively.