Kyle McDowell returns to the squad for the trip to Harland and Wolff Welders, but fans will have to wait further still to see Joe Finlay in competition action.

Kyle McDowell Picture: Gareth McCluskey

Kyle missed out on last Saturday Irish Cup tie at Cliftonville because of a neck injury picked up in a recent friendly game, but the week's rest has allowed him to recover and return to hopefully claim a place in side.

Recently signed striker Joe Finlay also missed the cup game but for the reason that he was away on holiday and that remains the case with Joe not due to return until sometime on Saturday itself.

Niall Currie will not be without options for the game at Tillysburn Park, having given first run outs to his other new signings David Magee and Craig McMillen against Cliftonville. All other players took part in training this week, providing the manager with a squad of seventeen to choose from this weekend.

The match will see McMillen up against the club he left earlier this month, having been on the opposing side when the teams met back in November. The outcome then was a one-all draw at Dixon Park with Ryan Harvey on the mark for the Welders, but he's likely to be missing on Saturday having picked up an ankle ligament injury a couple of weeks ago.

Tillysburn boss Tony Miskelly recently attracted for striker Marty Verner back from Loughgall, but rules on the status of players will be prevent him from featuring in this weekend's game. The team must also do without Carl Rezai and Craig Harris who are both suspended.

Since the beginning of this campaign, the Welders have found consistent form somewhat elusive. The club has failed to win two successive league matches all season, a statistic that has seen them on a steady slide down the Championship 1 table since around September. That was the form that cost former manager Colin Stannex his position in the same week that Niall Currie replaced Justin McBride at Ards.

Currie's side by contrast are one of the division's form teams, having gone eight games unbeaten in the league since his arrival.

With no floodlights at Tillysburn the game has a 2pm start with an Ards supporters bus leaving the Sports Club at 1.15pm.

20th January 2012

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This weekend's fixtures Ballinamallard United v Institute
Banbridge Town v Warrenpoint Town
Bangor v Larne (2.00pm)
HW Welders v Ards (2.00pm)
Newry City v Glebe Rangers