Ruaidhri Higgins: Coleraine want to end hopes of a 'Big Two' final in the BetMcLean Cup
Coleraine boss Ruaidhri Higgins says his squad want to rule out the possibility of a ‘Big Two’ final and secure their own ticket for the BetMcLean Cup showpiece decider.
Glentoran and Coleraine meet in Tuesday night’s rearranged semi-final, with the winner going on to face Linfield in the final on March 15.
The game was due to be played last Wednesday (January 28), but a waterlogged pitch meant it was postponed.
Higgins remarked how everyone outside of Coleraine would like to see ‘Big Two’ rivals Glentoran and Linfield collide for the trophy – but they will do everything they can to book their own way there.
"It is very much a new group and if we could get to a Cup final in our first year, it would be brilliant,” he said.
"There's a lot of work to do to get there but we have an opportunity.
"Listen, we are not naive. We've been around the block as staff and we know that if you ask everybody before a ball is kicked, regardless of what Cup it is, people would like a 'Big Two' final.
"I'm sure the powers-that-be would like a 'Big Two' Cup final, so we have to do everything in our power to make sure that at the very least they have to fight for that.
"We will be going there trying to get ourselves into a Cup final, which would be special for us.”
Glentoran have won both meetings between the two teams this season by a 2-1 scoreline and Higgins is expecting another “tight” game in east Belfast.
"The games have been extremely tight,” he added.
"Both games we have taken the lead and given up the lead.
"You look at their group of players...the experience they have in their group, they have been building that squad now for a number of years.
"They will fully expect to get to a final but we will have to do everything in our power to stop that.
"We have one or two wee niggles as you would expect at this stage of the season.
"But we will be okay and raring to go.”