IRISH LEAGUE: 2016/17 Danske Bank Premiership fixtures are revealed
The Crues will launch their bid to clinch three Gibson Cups on the bounce when they entertain David Jeffrey’s Sky Blues at Seaview on August 6.
Linfield – who finished eight points behind Crusaders last season to finish as runners-up – embark on their Premiership campaign with a trip to Ballinamallard United.
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Hide AdThe Mallards avoided relegation last season courtesy of a tense play-off win against Institute.
Ards – who earned promotion from Championship 1 last term – will kick-off their return to the top flight with a home game against Cliftonville.
Irish Cup winners Glenavon have home advantage against Carrick Rangers, while Portadown – who could start the season with a 12-point deficit – travel to Coleraine.
Meanwhile, Glentoran will entertain Dungannon Swifts at The Oval.
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Hide AdCrusaders meet Linfield at Seaview on the third match day of the season on August 13.
Boxing Day’s derby fixtures see Cliftonville and Linfield have home advantage against Crusaders and Glentoran respectively, while Coleraine travel to Ballymena.
Portadown host Glenavon while Dungannon entertain Ballinamallard. Carrick also play Ards at Taylor’s Avenue.
The season will split into a top and bottom six on March 25 for the final five fixtures of the campaign.
Full fixture list (subject to change):
August 6, 2016, 3pm
Crusaders v Ballymena United
Glenavon v Carrick Rangers
Glentoran v Dungannon Swifts
Ballinamallard v Linfield
Coleraine v Portadown
Ards v Cliftonville
August 10, 2016, 7.45pm
Linfield v Coleraine
Portadown v Ballinamallard
Cliftonville v Glentoran
Ballymena United v Glenavon
Carrick Rangers v Crusaders
Dungannon v Ards
August 13, 2016, 3pm
Crusaders v Linfield
Glenavon v Cliftonville
Glentoran vCarrick Rangers
Ballinamallard v Ballymena United
Dungannon v Coleraine
Ards v Portadown
AUGUST 20, 2016, 3PM
Linfield v Glenavon
Portadown v Glentoran
Cliftonville vDungannon Swifts
Ballymena United v Ards
Carrick Rangers v Ballinamallard United
Coleraine v Crusaders
AUGUST 27, 2016, 3PM
Crusaders v Portadown
Linfield v Dungannon Swifts
Glenavon v Ards
Ballinamallard v Cliftonville
Carrick Rangers v Ballymena United
Coleraine v Glentoran
SEPTEMBER 3, 2016, 3PM
Portadown v Carrick Rangers
Cliftonville v Linfield
Glentoran v Glenavon
Ballinamallard v Coleraine
Dungannon v Ballymena United
Ards v Crusaders
SEPTEMBER 10, 2016, 3PM
Crusaders v Dungannon Swifts
Linfield v Portadown
Glenavon v Ballinamallard United
Ballymena United v Cliftonville
Coleraine v Carrick Rangers
Ards v Glentoran
SEPTEMBER 17, 2016, 3PM
Portadown v Ballymena United
Cliftonville v Coleraine
Glentoran v Crusaders
Ballinamallard v Ards
Carrick Rangers v Linfield
Dungannon vGlenavon
SEPTEMBER 24, 2016, 3PM
Crusaders v Ballinamallard United
Linfield v Ards
Portadown v Cliftonville
Ballymena United v Glentoran
Carrick Rangers v Dungannon Swifts
Colerainev Glenavon
OCTOBER 1, 2016, 3PM
Crusaders v Cliftonville
Glenavon v Portadown
Glentoran v Linfield
Ballinamallard v Dungannon Swifts
Coleraine v Ballymena United
Ards v Carrick Rangers
OCTOBER 8, 2016, 3PM
Glenavon v Crusaders
Cliftonville v Carrick Rangers
Glentoran v Ballinamallard United
Ballymena United v Linfield
Dungannon v Portadown
Ards v Coleraine
OCTOBER 15, 2016, 3PM
Ballymena United v Crusaders
Carrick Rangers v Glenavon
Dungannon v Glentoran
Linfield v Ballinamallard United
Portadown v Coleraine
Cliftonville v Ards
OCTOBER 22, 2016, 3PM
Coleraine v Linfield
Ballinamallard v Portadown
Glentoran v Cliftonville
Glenavon v Ballymena United
Crusaders v Carrick Rangers
Ards v Dungannon Swifts
OCTOBER 29, 2016, 3PM
Linfield v Crusaders
Cliftonville v Glenavon
Carrick Rangers v Glentoran
Ballymena United v Ballinamallard United
Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts
Portadown v Ards
NOVEMBER 5, 2016, 3PM
Glenavon v Linfield
Glentoran v Portadown
Dungannon v Cliftonville
Ards v Ballymena United
Ballinamallard v Carrick Rangers
Crusaders v Coleraine
NOVEMBER 12, 2016, 3PM
Portadown v Crusaders
Dungannon v Linfield
Ards v Glenavon
Cliftonville v Ballinamallard United
Ballymena United v Carrick Rangers
Glentoran v Coleraine
NOVEMBER 19, 2016, 3PM
Carrick Rangers v Portadown
Linfield v Cliftonville
Glenavon v Glentoran
Coleraine v Ballinamallard United
Ballymena United v Dungannon Swifts
Crusaders vArds
NOVEMBER 26, 2016, 3PM
Dungannon v Crusaders
Portadown v Linfield
Ballinamallard v Glenavon
Cliftonville v Ballymena United
Carrick Rangers v Coleraine
Glentoran v Ards
dECEMBER 3, 2016, 3PM
Ballymena United v Portadown
Coleraine v Cliftonville
Crusaders v Glentoran
Ards v Ballinamallard United
Linfield v Carrick Rangers
Glenavon v Dungannon Swifts
DECEMBER 10, 2016, 3PM
Ballinamallard v Crusaders
Ards v Linfield
Cliftonville v Portadown
Glentoran v Ballymena United
Dungannon v Carrick Rangers
Glenavon v Coleraine
DECEMBER 17, 2016, 3PM
Crusaders v Glenavon
Carrick Rangers v Cliftonville
Ballinamallard v Glentoran
Linfield vBallymena United
Portadown v Dungannon Swifts
Coleraine v Ards
DECEMBER 26, 2016, 3PM
Cliftonville v Crusaders
Portadown v Glenavon
Linfield v Glentoran
Dungannon v Ballinamallard United
Ballymena United v Coleraine
Carrick Rangers v Ards
DECEMBER 31, 2016, 3PM
Crusaders v Linfield
Glenavon v Cliftonville
Glentoran v Dungannon Swifts
Ballinamallard v Portadown
Coleraine v Carrick Rangers
Ards v Ballymena United
JANUARY 3, 2017, 7.45PM
Linfield v Coleraine
Portadown v Glentoran
Cliftonville v Carrick Rangers
Ballymena United v Glenavon
Dungannon v Ballinamallard United
Ards v Crusaders
JANUARY 14, 2017, 3PM
Glenavon v Linfield
Cliftonville v Ards
Glentoran v Crusaders
Ballymena Unitedv Dungannon Swifts
Carrick Rangers v Ballinamallard United
Coleraine v Portadown
JANUARY 21, 2017, 3PM
Crusaders v Cliftonville
Linfield v Ballymena United
Portadown v Glenavon
Ballinamallard v Coleraine
Carrick Rangers v Dungannon Swifts
Ards v Glentoran
JANUARY 28, 2017, 3PM
Glenavon v Crusaders
Cliftonville v Portadown
Glentoran v Ballinamallard United
Ballymena United v Carrick Rangers
Coleraine v Ards
Dungannon v Linfield
FEBRUARY 11, 2017, 3PM
Crusaders v Ballymena United
Portadown v Ards
Glentoran v Glenavon
Ballinamallard v Cliftonville
Carrick Rangers v Linfield
Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts
FEBRUARY 17, 2017, 7.45PM
Linfield v Portadown
Glenavon v Ballinamallard United
Cliftonville v Glentoran
Ballymena United v Coleraine
Dungannon v Crusaders
Ards v Carrick Rangers
FEBRUARY 25, 2017, 3PM
Portadown v Crusaders
Cliftonville v Coleraine
Glentoran v Linfield
Ballinamallard v Ballymena United
Carrick Rangers v Glenavon
Dungannon v Ards
MARCH 11, 2017, 3PM
Crusaders v Carrick Rangers
Linfield v Cliftonville
Glenavon v Dungannon Swifts
Ballymena United v Portadown
Coleraine v Glentoran
Ards v Ballinamallard United
MARCH 18, 2017, 3PM
Crusaders v Ballinamallard United
Linfield v Ards
Glenavon v Coleraine
Ballymena United v Glentoran
Carrick Rangers v Portadown
Dungannon v Cliftonville
MARCH 25, 2017, 3PM
Portadown v Dungannon Swifts
Cliftonville v Ballymena United
Glentoran v Carrick Rangers
Ballinamallard v Linfield
Coleraine v Crusaders
Ards v Glenavon