Irish Premiership up for grabs as Glens host Larne

With two games to go, just three points separate the top two teams in the Irish Premiership - with the same goal difference.

The title race has truly gone down to the wire this season.

Now, in what could prove to be a title-decider, top of the table Larne travel to title rivals Glentoran at the Oval on Friday live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

The Inver Reds can secure the Gibson Cup if they are the victors in east Belfast but if Glens win or the teams draw, the title race will go down to the final game of the season.

BBC Sport NI takes a look ahead to the huge match at the Oval.

What is at stake?

If Larne can avoid defeat, they remain in the driving seat to become this year's Irish Premiership champions.

The Inver Reds currently sit three points ahead of the Glens and know that three points at the Oval would be enough to secure the Gibson Cup for a third time in four seasons.

Declan Devine's side need to avoid defeat to keep their title challenge going, and three points for his outfit will mean that the teams would be level going into the final round of fixtures.

If the sides draw, Larne will enter the last match of the season with a three-point advantage at the top, and they will still have the same goal difference.

Larne face Dungannon Swifts at Inver Park in their final fixture, while Glentoran travel to play Coleraine with both games 17:30 BST kick-off.

Players to watch

Pat Hoban was recently named NIFL's Player of the Season, and he will certainly play a key role on Friday. The 34-year-old has netted 26 goals so far this campaign and is a real threat upfront for the Glens.

The Inver Reds have their own talisman upfront in Andy Ryan. Despite missing five months of the season through injury, he has still played a pivotal part in the Inver Reds hopes of clinching the Gibson Cup.

Larne’s Matt Ridley has proven that he is both solid in defence but can also push the side forward. The summer signing netted during the 2-0 win over Linfield last weekend and will hope for a similar overall performance at the Oval.

Cameron Palmer has been influential in Glentoran's midfield and has made 43 starting appearance and netted three goals. The former Rangers academy player was named Player of the Year this season for the Glens, but his biggest contribution could still be to come.

How have the previous meetings between the sides gone?

Larne fans will take confidence that their side have a good record against Friday's opponents with the Glens without a win in the past 15 meetings.

Earlier this season, Benji Magee's 82nd minute strike sealed the three points for the Inver Reds in the first meeting between the sides.

Then, at the Oval, Larne thrashed 10-man Glentoran 4-1 thanks to a double from Paul O'Neill and strikes from Cricky Gallagher and Tomas Cosgrove.

O'Neill was on target once again in February's 2-2 draw at Inver Park before Larne knocked the Glens out of the Irish Cup with a penalty shootout win in the quarter-finals.

How has the season gone for both teams?

It looked like Larne had one hand on the Gibson Cup when they opened up an 11-point lead at the top of the table, but their struggles in recent months have set up this exciting finale to the season.

A notable stumble from Larne followed their Irish Cup win over Warrenpoint in January, with the side without a win in their next four matches.

In more recent weeks, Coleraine's back-to-back wins against Gary Haveron's side - the first after extra time in the Irish Cup before a 4-1 thrashing at Inver Park four days later - have damaged their momentum.

As for the Glens, they had a blip in form back in November with defeats to bottom of the table Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts before drawing with Bangor.

A month later though they recovered with victories over Coleraine, Linfield and Portadown before hammering Carrick Rangers 7-0 in what has proved to be a crucial chunk of fixtures.

They then were beaten by the Inver Reds but have lost just one of their next 14 Premiership games and will be hoping to extend this impressive run on Friday.