Linfield manager David Healy says both he and his Glentoran counterparts are aware of the pressures surrounding the respective management teams as they prepare for the first 'Big Two' meeting of the season at the Oval on Friday night.

The match will be shown live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

Premiership leaders Glentoran go into the encounter with a three-point lead at the top of the league standings, having won five and drawn one of their opening five fixtures, conceding just one goal.

Linfield have played three fewer games because of their commitments in European club competition, but have won each of the three matches they have played.

"They [Glentoran] are unbeaten, they've started really well and we've started ok," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"They look as if they have an edge to their game, which is important for big clubs like Linfield and Glentoran, with the demands and expectations around them.

"Myself and Declan [Devine], and I'm good friends with Paddy McCourt and I saw Tim McCann at a game a couple of weeks ago, we all understand the demands of both sets of supporters.

"It's hopefully set fair for a good game. Hopefully it's won by a wee bit of quality, a wee bit of magic by somebody, and not a poor decision where everybody is going to be left discussing it at the end of the game."