Linfield boss David Healy says it’s premature to write off the champions with 33 points still to play for in the league title race.
The Blues may have faltered in recent weeks, winning just one of their last five games in all competitions, including a 1-0 defeat to Glentoran at The Oval last weekend.
But Larne's 2-1 win over the Glens on Friday night means the Windsor Park men can leapfrog their Big two rivals and go top on goal difference with a victory over Portadown on Saturday.
And Healy, who is chasing a fourth consecutive Gibson Cup, is confident his players have the quality and character to get back on track.
“There is always an inquest after losing a derby match and players voiced their opinions after the Glentoran game which is what you want to see,” he said.
“There was disappointment, but there’s also a steely belief in the dressing room. Yes, we’re behind in the table at the moment, but there are still a lot of points to be played for.
“We still have to play Glentoran at home after the split and we also have 11 games left, six of them before the split. There’s a helluva lot of football still to be played.
“The players were smarting after last Friday night’s result, but they’ll have the bit between their teeth going forward, I can guarantee you that.”
With Linfield failing to score in three of their last four games - or four of their last eight - Healy is eager to find a “ruthless” edge heading into a key period of the season.
“We have to be more clinical when the chances or clutch moments arrive,” he said. “We have let so many teams off the hook this season because we haven’t been ruthless.
“If that continues it is going to cost us points like it did at Glentoran.”
Portadown, who lie just two points off Warrenpoint Town at the foot of the table, head to Windsor on the back of last Saturday’s dispiriting 3-0 derby defeat at rivals Glenavon.
The Mid Ulster men have now gone eight league games without a win, their last a narrow 1-0 victory over Warrenpoint before Christmas.
Ports boss Paul Doolin said: “I said from the start that it wouldn’t be easy and from now to the end of the season it’s going to be as competitive at the bottom as it is at the top.”
Elsewhere, Warrenpoint face Coleraine for the second time in four days having lost 2-1 to the Bannsiders on Tuesday night.
SATURDAY'S FIXTURES (all 3pm): Ballymena United v Glenavon; Crusaders v Carrick Rangers; Linfield v Portadown; Warrenpoint Town v Coleraine.
