Simply 9 factors separate Dungannon Swifts in fifth place and Bangor in eighth.

With Larne, Coleraine, Glentoran and Linfield wanting nailed on to complete within the high half there are simply two extra spots up for grabs.

A uncommon win for the Swifts away to the Blues on Tuesday would assist them to maneuver nearer to a second successive high half end and depart them simply three factors off David Healy’s aspect, with boss Rodney McAree stating that’s their goal.

Carrick are eight factors additional behind, however occupy sixth by advantage of their super turnaround in kind.

They’re unbeaten of their final 5 video games and can fancy their possibilities of extending that document once they host struggling Glenavon.

The opposite two sides who’re only a level off Stephen Baxter’s staff are Cliftonville and Bangor, who meet at Solitude on Tuesday.

It has been a turbulent interval on and off the pitch for Cliftonville, which culminated within the resignation of chairman Kieran Harding on Saturday quickly after their dramatic late Irish Cup win over Glenavon.

Boss Jim Magilton hopes that victory may be the catalyst for an upturn of their league kind as their final league win got here on 13 December.

Bangor have additionally hit a sticky patch following their vibrant begin to life again within the high flight.

They’ve misplaced their final three league video games, however they did beat the Reds in August and picked up some extent towards them in December.