Drumahoe side welcome back defender Scoltock

The Waterside men go into the game unbeaten in their last two league outings, but if they want to keep that run going then they’ll have to be at their best at Seaview on Friday evening.

“We are looking forward to the game and if you want to be taken seriously in the Premiership, you have to go to places like Crusaders and compete,” said Kee.

“In reality we probably won’t be expected to get anything out of the game, but playing at Seaview ticks a lot of boxes for us in terms of the surface and it will be our first experience of playing Crusaders. It’s a game we are looking forward too, just like we did against Glentoran and I’m sure the players will give their best.”

Stephen Baxter’s side, particularly at home on their 3G surface, are a tough nut to crack. They also come into the encounter with a spring in their step as they are free-scoring and unbeaten in their last four games.

Last Saturday they had an impressive 3-0 win at bottom side Warrenpoint Town and in Jordan Owens and Diarmuid O’Carroll they have two players who are finding the back of the net on a regular basis.

Owens has scored six times, while O’Carroll who won a champions medal last season with Cliftonville, has scored four.

“It’s a surface which obviously they are used to both playing and training on and we have been training on a 4G surface at the Vale Centre, which is a different type of surface.

“We played a practice match at Seaview against Sport & Leisure about 18 months ago and did well that night, so hopefully the pitch will suit us as we are going to go to Seaview and look to get the ball down and play.

“While we’ll want to get the ball down and play we obviously have to identify Crusaders strengths. They are quite a direct team and they have a lot of physical presence in their team, which we have to be prepared to deal with that.

Duo Michael McCrudden and Cormac Burke are likely to be in the squad, the pair returned to training on Monday evening, while the latter got some much needed game time in last night’s North West Senior Cup tie against Tobermore United and if his recent hamstring problem is fine then he’ll travel to Seaview.

While Mark Scoltock returns from suspension after he missed the Tobermore tie.