Ballymena United boss David Jeffrey suspects his team’s new found momentum will be tested to the full against derby rivals Coleraine at the Showgrounds.
The Sky Blues , dogged by injury and a lack of form in the first four months of the campaign, are back on track with three wins on the bounce in the league.
A return to fitness of strike duo Adam Lecky and Cathair Friel - who scored twice in Friday’s 2-1 win over Glenavon - has been key to the Braidmen’s revival.
But Jeffrey is bracing himself for a Boxing Day test of resolve and character against a Coleraine side smarting from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Cliftonville.
He said: “Coleraine have been playing some fantastic stuff this season, so we know it will be mightily tough, but the challenge for us is to keep up our recent momentum going.
“We’re pleased to have won our last three games and there’s no denying the correlation between positive results and having players back fit and available again.
“We had a difficult period where we didn’t have players available due to injury and some people didn’t understand that, but the players and staff stuck together.
“I’m delighted with the character the players have shown, but we know that will be tested to the full on Boxing Day.”
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