IRISH LEAGUE: Gary Hamilton insists Glenavon remain a '˜work in progress'

The Lurgan Blues sit fourth in the Danske Bank Premiership and are into the quarter-finals of the Tennent’s Irish Cup.

Last season the Mourneview Park club finished third after winning eight of their last 10 league fixtures.

With 10 games remaining this term they sit fourth, 13 points off leaders Crusaders but just six adrift of second-placed Linfield who they meet on Saturday at Windsor Park.

Glenavon lost 4-3 in a thriller at Windsor back in September, before exacting revenge in an equally breathless 3-2 victory at Mourneview in November.

Fans are hoping for goals galore tomorrow when the teams renew rivalries once again, and Hamilton is relishing the challenge.

“It is another massive game, but they are all massive in this league,” he said.

“At the end of the day you get the same three points for whoever you beat, whether it be Linfield, Crusaders, Cliftonville or Carrick.

“Crusaders are sitting top and in a very healthy position, and Linfield are second. They are there to catch, and we have to try and close the gap on Linfield on Saturday.

“We lost 4-3 at Windsor earlier in the season, and we really should have taken something from the game.

“We then beat them at our place.

“They are six points ahead of us so we have to try and get a win on Saturday and close that gap to three.

“We need to perform to our best level, because Linfield are a very good team who are in decent form.”

Glenavon have lost just once in their last 10 Premiership outings, a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Glentoran earlier this month.

Hamilton believes four games in the space of 13 days finally caught up with his war-weary players.

“We were on a good run, but I think the Glens game was one too many for the squad,” he added.

“We played on a terrible pitch at Carrick, and also played on testing conditions at The Oval in the Irish Cup. We also played at Seaview on an artificial surface and then we played the Glens in the league on a Monday night.

“The players lacked that energy and buzz, and it showed on the pitch. I can’t be critical of them because they have done so well this season.

“Thankfully we bounced back with last week’s derby win and we want to kick on now.”

Hamilton insists Glenavon’s target remains unchanged this season – to simply improve on last year’s finish in the Premiership.

“We finished third on 66 points, so we are on our way to improving on that points tally,” Hamilton said.

“We have 10 games left and we are on 52 points, so hopefully we can beat last season’s result.

“We are still fourth in the table, so that proves that the other teams have also improved.

“The challenge is greater this season so we are just focusing on our goals and working hard to achieve them.”