BANNSIDERS boss Ruaidhri Higgins says he has been impressed with Carrick’s start to the season as the two teams do battle at The Showgrounds this afternoon…

The Amber Army have won three and drawn one out of their six Premiership assignments to date, meaning they find themselves seventh in the table.

Stephen Baxter’s squad is filled with Premiership experience and that aspect is not lost on Higgins.

“We’re expecting a real tough test,” he said.

“They’ve had a brilliant start to the season, they’ve had a couple of draws, one or two defeats in recent times, but when you look through their squad, they have experienced people who have won trophies right throughout the squad.

“You only have to look at their centre-back partnership, the quality and experience and the know-how there, and right throughout the pitch really, so I’m not surprised at the start they’ve made.

“But we’re at home in front of our own supporters, our own backyard and we’ll go all out to try and pick up three points.”

A sell-out crowd watched last Friday night’s clash against Glentoran, and whilst the final outcome wasn’t in our favour, Higgins insisted he would love to see another packed attendance on the Ballycastle Road.

He explained: “I have to say they were absolutely brilliant, really, really good.

“I think what that showed on Friday night was the numbers on the ground that shows the real potential of this club.

“There’s so much potential here, such a good fan base and hopefully, listen, we’ve scored goals, we haven’t conceded too many and if we can continue that, hopefully we can keep bringing the crowds back and make that a more consistent number rather than for the so-called bigger games is what people would think.

“Every game you get the same three points regardless of who you play and we need a real vocal home support behind us every time we come here.”

Supporters can get tickets for today’s game HERE.