Irish Cup fifth round: Harland and Wolff Welders v Glentoran

Venue: Blanchflower Park, Belfast Date: Friday, 3 January Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer; live text updates, reaction and highlights on BBC Sport website & app

Harland and Wolff Welders cannot rely on the element of surprise when they kick off the Irish Cup fifth round against Glentoran on Friday night, says their manager Paul Kee.

The Championship outfit, who sit fourth in the second tier, will host the 23-time winners in a game to be shown live on the BBC iPlayer.

And while the Glens, who train regularly at the Welders' Blanchflower Park, will be wholly familiar with their surroundings, Kee is aware they will now know all about their opposition too.

This is the second time the east Belfast sides have met this season with Glentoran needing an injury time equaliser from James Singleton and penalty shootout victory to progress in a County Antrim Shield first round tie in September.

"The Glens, we caught them by surprise a bit," Kee said.

"They wouldn't have known a lot of the players but they certainly do now."

So too, it seems, do other Premiership clubs with Kee admitting there has been "a lot of interest" in his squad from top tier sides.

Tiarnan O'Connor, the 22-year-old striker who has found the net 14 times in the league this season, is certainly one who is attracting attention, while Lewis Patterson and Kee's son Josh have also impressed.

The boss describes any transfer interest as a "chicken and egg" scenario, knowing it is the by-product of impressive results and team performances.

"The interest shows you the development processes that we have in place, but we have to back that up with recruitment and our academy.

"They [the players] know they're in a good place. They know they need the team and the club to get themselves up a level.

"They respect that. That's what we're hoping to do and that will hopefully elevate the club and each individual as well."

Whether as individuals or a collective impressing against Glentoran on Friday evening would certainly be a statement, but Kee knows the visitors will be a different side to the one that visited Blanchflower Park four months ago.

Now unbeaten in their past seven games in all competitions and up to second in the Irish Premiership table, manager Declan Devine was rewarded last month with a new contract that runs until the summer of 2027.

Furthermore, with the January transfer window having opened, new signings Christie Pattisson, Shane McEleney and Ciaran Coll are all now available for selection.

"It's a different Glentoran team, more experience under the manager," added Kee.

"It's going to be a tough, tough game for us. They've got a good squad of players, they're experienced and they've got some good results recently, especially against their big rivals Linfield.

"If we're to get anything out of the game on Friday, we have to be at our very, very best and hope that Glentoran have an off day."

Despite their status as cup underdogs however, Kee says his young side go into the contest with "no fear". The Welders are in a rich vein of form themselves, having won a pair of festive fixtures against Dundela and Ballyclare Comrades over the past week.

Having been focussed on the "bread and butter" of the league, the manager believes the cup tie will prove to be a valuable experience.

"The players are young so they've no fear. We've a squad with an average age of 22 and a half," he said.

"Every team wants to win the cup. As a Championship club our expectations are low, but even if you go on a run, it boosts your profile, gives the players more confidence and experience.

"That's what I'm keen to get for this young group of players. They're evolving, they're growing and playing in these types of games will be powerful for them."