Imagine Everton playing all the Merseyside derbies against Liverpool at Anfield, or Celtic facing Rangers at Ibrox in each Old Firm encounter. Irish League side Cliftonville know all about surrendering home advantage in their matches against Belfast rivals Linfield, as they have been doing it for the past 28 years.

Since 1970 Cliftonville, a predominantly Catholic club, have not been allowed to play Linfield, whose supporters are exclusively Protestant, at their Solitude ground because of security concerns.

But with the easing of tension in the North following the various ceasefires, the RUC have given the go-ahead for Linfield, or the Blues as they are popularly known, to return to Solitude this morning.

The problem stems from the 1970 Irish Cup final played at Solitude when Linfield fans were attacked in the streets following the match against Ballymena United.

Against the backdrop of the start of the Troubles, the RUC decided it was too big a security risk to allow Linfield back to Cliftonville for the next league game.

Ever since, Cliftonville, who are nicknamed the Reds, have played all their "home" matches against Linfield at their opponents' home ground, Windsor Park.

For Irish Football Association president Jim Boyce, who stood down as Cliftonville chairman in the summer, it is another sign that Northern Ireland's sectarian wounds are healing.

"I always said it would not have been worth going ahead if someone got seriously hurt or a life was lost, but I have noticed a big change in people's attitudes.

"I know that when Linfield go back they will get a very warm welcome from Cliftonville."

The crowd limit of 1,500 is one of a number of conditions imposed by the RUC and the match kicks off at 11.0 a.m.

Boyce hopes that, if all goes well, the police restrictions will be eased for Linfield's next match at Solitude.

"It's a first step, and I'm hopeful that if everything goes off well that when Linfield return on January 30th the kick-off time will be three o'clock and the ticket allocation will increase," he said.

Cliftonville pipped Linfield for the Irish League title last season, despite playing all the games between the sides at Windsor Park, and Reds boss Marty Quinn feels the Blues have been away too long.

"I feel Linfield's return is long overdue, but it has never been down to Linfield or Cliftonville, it was always down to the security forces," he said.

"I'm delighted the game is going ahead and I feel it's time we looked forward rather than back in this country.

"I've been to Windsor Park many times as a manager and a player and the hospitality has always been second to none. "And so I would like to extend the hand of friendship to everyone connected with Linfield."

Linfield manager David Jeffrey hailed the Blues' return to Solitude as "a new dawn".