Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says he is preparing to face a Larne team who he expects may be feeling "like a wounded animal" in Saturday's Irish Premiership contest at Inver Park.

The back-to-back Premiership champions are without a win in their past four league games, Gary Haveron's side drawing with Glenavon on Tuesday night after suffering three straight defeats.

"They're probably a wee disgruntled at the moment as results haven't been going their way. They're going to be like a wounded animal," said McAree.

"They'll be looking to get back on track as they chase an automatic place to qualify for Europe

"They've played a lot of football this season but they have a lot of quality players and a lot of people who can hurt you so we have to make sure we are at the top level of our game to get something."

Dungannon Swifts sit third in the table, three points above Larne, who have played three games fewer, ahead of this weekend's meeting.

"There's a good spirit among the boys, good camaraderie. Everyone's pulling in the same direction.

"We're enjoying every game at this moment in time. We're not putting pressure on ourselves, not thinking about what might be and what mightn't be. We're just enjoying our football and looking forward to the next challenge.

"We find ourselves in a position that is not the norm for us but we're embracing it and we're trying to stay there for as long as we possibly can."

The Swifts' performances this season will have led to many of their players attracting attention from other clubs but McAree says their priority will be to build on progress made this season.

"The club are working tirelessly to try and build on what we have at this moment and time, not lose players but add to the squad to try and challenge ourselves to do better again.

"We want to be successful towards the end of this season and give ourselves something to build on, something to attract other players to maybe come and play for Dungannon Swifts."