Match preview

After enjoying back-to-back domestic crowns over the past two years and subsequent qualification for Europe, Larne's fairytale story is beginning to slow down after a sobering five matches in the League Phase of the Conference League, with Thursday's hosts failing to win any games so far.

Indeed, the Invermen are the only side in the 36-team rankings who are yet to collect a point in the section, meaning that they sit rock bottom of the table heading into the final match of the League Phase, five points behind Turkish giants Istanbul Basaksehir in 24th.

All hopes of Larne making the knockout stages of a European competition for the first time in their history ended in Azerbaijan last Thursday against fellow strugglers Dinamo Minsk, who secured a two-goal success at a neutral venue courtesy of strikes from Aleksei Gavrilovich and Gleb Zherdev.

Batting on the continental stage has come at a cost to the Invermen in their domestic quests, with Nathan Rooney's men languishing down in ninth place in the Northern Ireland Premiership, a mammoth 19 points behind current pacesetters Linfield, although Larne have played five games fewer.

Playing their Conference League home matches at Belfast's Windsor Park due to UEFA regulations, Larne have struggled to make the venue their own so far in the competition, losing 4-1 to Shamrock Rovers on October 24 before suffering a defeat at the hands of St Gallen on November 7.

Since exiting the Belgian Cup following defeat in a five-goal thriller against Union SG on December 4, Gent have strung together a three-game unbeaten run across the Belgian Pro League and Conference League, strengthening their hopes of a successful 2024-25 campaign.

De Buffalo's booked their spot in the knockout stages of this competition last weekend at home against Serbian minnows Backa Topola, with first-half efforts from Max Dean, Omri Gandelman and Franck Surdez getting the job done for the hosts inside the opening 20 minutes of the battle.

Ahead of Thursday night's favourable-looking trip to Belfast, Gent are occupying 13th position in the Conference League table, one point behind eighth-placed Jagiellonia Bialystok, meaning that maximum points at Windsor would likely be enough to advance the Belgians straight into the last 16.

Despite coming up against the poorest side of the League Phase, De Buffalo's will not be extremely confident of recording a comfortable success on the road considering their recent form, with Wouter Vrancken's troops currently enduring an eight-game winless away run across all competitions.

Gent have a pair of promising English youngsters in their ranks in the form of defender Archie Brown and 20-year-old marksman Dean, with the latter making an unorthodox career move to Planet Group Arena over the summer following a 19-goal term for MK Dons in League Two.

Team News

Receiving his marching orders after two yellow cards against Dinamo Minsk, Larne's Cian Bolger will be suspended for the final match of his side's Conference League adventure.

As a result, Shaun Want will require a new partner at centre-back, with Sam Todd likely to enter the starting XI of the hosts.

Gent remain without the services of full-back Noah Fadiga, who is taking an extended break from competitive action due to ongoing heart problems.

De Buffalo's will also be unable to call upon the talents of Matisse Samoise, with the 23-year-old suffering a hamstring injury at the beginning of December.

The visitors to Windsor Park have a pair of doubts ahead of Thursday's clash, with both Aime Omgba and Nurio fighting to be fit for selection.

Larne possible starting lineup:

Ferguson; Cosgrove, Todd, Want, Ives; Randall, Donnelly, Gallagher; Thomson, O'Neill, Ryan

Gent possible starting lineup:

Roef; Gambor, Watanabe, Mitrovic, Brown; Gandelman, Ito, Delorge; Sonko, Surdez, Dean