Walker: League game has no bearing on cup tie

United face the Lurgan Blues at the Showgrounds (7.45pm) in a rearranged Carling Premiership clash – a pre-cursor to the cup clash at Mourneview Park on March 6.

But Walker says: "When you get to the quarter-final stage, it's mostly all Premiership teams anyway.

"Both teams know each other so there shouldn't really be any surprises.

"The focus on tonight's game is solely on league points. I have set the players a challenge for February which, if they can achieve it, we will be right back in contention for the top six – it's completely in our own hands."

Walker will have one enforced absentee as defender Chris Ramsey begins an additional two-match ban for his recent sending-off at Coleraine, after referee Alan Black deemed his red card was for 'serious foul play'.

On the plus side, Walker has midfielder Philip Carson available after injury and suspension, along with winger Gary Muir, who was forced to sit out Saturday's Irish Cup win over Ballinamallard as he is ineligible for any round of the competition, having been signed after the January 30 deadline.

"It makes no sense - the lad is eligible to play in the domestic league fixtures so if he's eligible for one, he should be eligible for them all.

"One of the hardest things to do on Saturday was when he stepped off the plane, I had to tell him that he couldn't play – he thought it was a wind-up.

After tonight's game, United travel to relegation-haunted Lisburn Distillery this Saturday (3pm). Seven Towers Supporters' Club transport for that game leaves Henry Street car park at 1.45pm.