STEPHEN Baxter insists Crusaders won’t be approaching tonight’s County Antrim Shield quarter-final with Bangor with a laissez-faire attitude.
The Crues are odds-on favourites to progress to the last four after being drawn against the only non-senior club in the competition.
Frankie Wilson’s Bangor earned their place in the Shield after winning the Steel and Sons Cup last season.
It is a significant test for the Championship 1 underdogs, but Crusaders boss Baxter is under no illusions approaching the tie.
“This will be a big game for Bangor and I have no doubt they will go out and give it everything,” Baxter said.
“We know a little bit about them after playing them in pre-season and they can cause us problems.
“But this is a competition we take seriously and we want to progress.”
Crusaders go into tonight’s game at Seaview on the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Dungannon Swifts at the weekend.
Baxter has demanded an immediate response from his players.
“Saturday was poor and we got what we deserved,” he added.
“This gives us a chance to bounce back immediately and get into the semi-finals of a cup competition.
“We will take a look at things and see how the squad is. Chris Morrow and David McMaster picked up knocks on Saturday so we might have to shuffle the pack.
“We also have a league game on Friday night which we have to take into consideration.
“But I have every confidence in the players I can bring into the squad. We have young lads who have promise and they will get their chance this season.”
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