IRISH LEAGUE: Premiership survival remains Carrick's priority, insists Gary Haveron

Carrick continue to linger perilously at the bottom of the table with just 11 games remaining this season – starting with Wednesday night’s meeting with Dungannon Swifts at Seaview (7.45pm).

They also have a massive Irish Cup quarter-final date with Crusaders on Saturday, but Haveron insists league survival remains the club’s primary mission.

“It is a big week for us, but Wednesday night is a bigger game for us. We need points on the board in the league,” the Rangers chief said.

“Dungannon will be a tough test, but we will regroup and take the positives from Saturday’s draw with Portadown and we go again.

“Dungannon have done well recently and we want to try and replicate that.

“You need to throw a run of results together and we need to build on Saturday’s point against Portadown and keep building.

“The run-in is going to be hard, but we will keep fighting.”

Carrick have been forced to play a number of ‘home’ games away from the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena this season due to an unplayable pitch.

They are due to return there this weekend for the Irish Cup game with Crusaders, and Haveron admits it will be a “massive boost” to return to their Taylor’s Avenue base.

“Being away from Taylor’s Avenue has been tough, but we are due to return there this weekend so hopefully that will help us,” he added.

“Every game this year has felt like an away one, so it has been a tough slog.

“Hopefully we will return to Taylor’s Avenue this weekend. Wednesday night will hopefully be our last ‘home’ game at Seaview.

“Playing at our own home is massive for us. And playing Crusaders at Taylor’s Avenue in the cup gives us something.

“Hopefully it stays dry. You can’t roll a wet pitch. So hopefully the weather is kind for us.”