Leinster

Carlow

Predictable tail-enders in the preliminary-pool campaign. Competitive but in fairly dire circumstances with their matches against Wicklow and Wexford triggering horror amongst all who saw them.

Dublin

Strengths: Less complicated side of Leinster draw. Good through middle of pitch. Blend of experience - six of the All-Ireland team - and younger players. Team more settled, but not settled enough.

Weaknesses: Inconsistent. Ollie Murphy will be pleased to note that big problems persist at corner back. Far too dependent on Ciaran Whelan's scoring input from centrefield. Uncertainty over best players for some positions.

Prediction: Should be good enough to emulate last year's run to the final, although the experience with Laois will deter complacency. In the final, impossible to oppose Meath whom they "put away for good" in 1995.

Kildare

Strengths: Early check-out from championship last year as much a testament to effort of the previous season as to incapacity. Careless loss of Niall Buckley has to be seen in context of his waning influence since 1997. Capable of surprising championship performances, especially against Louth. Surprisingly confident of beating Meath.

Weaknesses: Loss of Buckley and Cathal Sheridan significant, regardless of their potential input. Well-organised but limited up front. Optimistic. but picture Oliver Hardy walking towards a banana skin discarded by Stan Laurel.

Prediction: Talk of Meath is premature given that Kildare have lost previous two championship matches against Louth. Have performed at a higher level than Louth since that second defeat in 1995 and should progress, but Meath represent the end of the road.

Laois

Strengths: Confidence generated by young team's challenge to Dublin a year ago. Most of league campaign was impressive. Under-age talent of recent years should be emerging at senior level.

Weaknesses: Effect of league campaign qualified by some poor Division Two opposition and spoiled by sucker defeat by Louth. Should have beaten Dublin last year. Killer punch necessary for championship still not proved. Lots of floating like butterflies, but very little stinging like bees.

Prediction: Although eye-catching display against Dublin obscures the task, the first round against Westmeath will again be a major obstacle but one they should surmount. Dublin will again be the semi-final opposition. Enough said for now.

Longford

Strengths: Strong performances in O'Byrne Cup success was followed by good league run. Good central players in David Blessington, Paul Barden and Niall Sheridan.

Weaknesses: Influential centre-fielder Enda Barden is injured. Form has tailed off drastically. Potentially catastrophic shock in Wexford.

Prediction: Win over Wicklow and likely defeat of Carlow gives them a chance of involvement in a further two weeks' play-offs.

Louth

Strengths: Happy ending to league campaign with Division Two title. Competent through the field. Good record against Kildare.

Weaknesses: No spectacular performers. Glow of victory from league might distract from more serious business.

Prediction: League pedigree spoiled by memory of last year's anaemic display against Dublin. Will fancy their chances against Kildare.

Meath

Strengths: Dogged defence, top-class centrefield and, with possible exception of Galway, best attack formation in the championship. Consistent, cool under pressure and the unit always more formidable than the sum of its parts. Throw in for good measure player of 90s Trevor Giles - still in his mid-20s. Other than that may be vulnerable.

Weaknesses: Graham Geraghty's suspension will keep him out of opening two championship matches. Fitness of key players still not fully resolved. Considerable mental strain of retaining an All-Ireland. Pearce Brosnan continues to be unavailable for the left wing back position.

Prediction: Targets for everyone. No team in Leinster looks to have their measure. Favourites this year, next year and the one after that.

Offaly

strengths: Positive experience at top, albeit three years ago. Some fine players and a strong competitive sense. Strung together a solid league run.

Weaknesses: Like Laois, league run was brought to an unsatisfactory end by Louth. Peter Brady has retired and John Kenny is fighting injury. Ciaran McManus's suspension puts the tin hat on an anxious build-up.

Prediction: Meath again lying in wait.

Westmeath

Strengths: Emerging players from last year's successful under-21s. Genuine star quality in Dessie Dolan.

Weaknesses: Have had to get along without suspended manager Brendan Lowry. Although they were clearly the best side in recent preliminary pools and drew with eventual champions Offaly three years ago, performances in the quarter-finals haven't been hectic.

Prediction: Like Offaly they face their nemesis from the previous two seasons, Laois.

Wexford

Strengths: Good year has led to brink of qualification from preliminary pool. Two wins, against Longford and Carlow, equals decade total from '90s.

Weaknesses: Loss of Mattie Forde to suspension more than offset by return of Scott Doran. Win over Longford was impressive, but next outing in Carlow less so. Despite impressive personnel in attack, accuracy isn't all it should be.

Prediction: All to play for this evening. If they don't avoid defeat and let Longford back into the reckoning, the play-offs mightn't offer as good a chance. All in all still mixing with the little people.

Wicklow

Strengths: Still in with a shout. Home advantage in Aughrim for crucial match this evening.

Weaknesses: Haven't played well in either match to date. Using Kevin O'Brien deep hasn't worked that well. Finishing has been wild - including two missed penalties last week.

Prediction: Beating Wexford is within their compass but if they trigger play-offs it's more likely to be to Longford's benefit. Then it's off on hols.