Sligo v Armagh, Croke Park, Sunday/Live on Network 2, 2.30: Probably the two least expected quarter-finalists, but an intriguing game nonetheless, writes Ian O'Riordan

Armagh and Sligo are clearly on top of their game now and, no less than the other three pairings this weekend, there are plenty of reasons to stake a winning claim in either team.

There is however one main reason why Armagh are likely to progress. They are a team close to their prime, physically and mentally matured enough now to carry the weight of expectations in Croke Park, not just tomorrow, but probably on to late September as well.

Back in May when they drew with Tyrone in the first round of the Ulster championship it was still unclear if Armagh were a team of the past or the future.

A week later, Tyrone were thrown overboardand, for Armagh, the Ulster title beckoned. The Joe Kernan era had been born.

Sligo have undergone a more mini-renaissance this summer. Defeat to Galway in the Connacht final was weighed down further by a feeling of under-performance.

Then their whole season turned with the complete transformation against Tyrone in the fourth round qualifier, limiting the league champions to 0-3 in the second half and delivering one of the great team performances of the summer.

Team captain Eamon O'Hara - the heart of the renewal - freely admitted after the Connacht final that the whole team weren't pulling their weight. Manager Peter Ford made some changes, too, but it's possible the Tyrone performance was their peak.

The introduction of Neil Carew (when they were six points down) cemented Sligo's defence the last day and, not surprisingly, he has been named at corner back.

Up front, Dessie Sloyan and Gerry McGowan are enjoying a near-perfect synergy and the athletic presence of Dara McGarty has never been more notable.

Ford is also unconcerned that Sligo have no championship history with Armagh. Their method of play is certainly no secret, nor are the target men of Kieran McGeeney, Oisín McConville and Diarmuid Marsden.

Yet, there is something brutally determined about Armagh this summer. Kernan's influence cannot be over-emphasised and whatever magic he worked with Crossmaglen seems to be even more potent with the county team.

They have an unrivalled richness in defenders, and the loss of Kieran Hughes through injury is more than adequately filled by Andrew McCann - actually their number one wing-back at the start of the season.

Again, much will depend on the primal role of McGeeney, but is there a more consistent player in the country right now?

Their economy of the attack has also been growing all summer, with Ronan Clarke and Stephen McDonnell now familiar company for McConville and Marsden.

Part of Sligo's success against Tyrone was the bottling-down in defence, and the unexpected breaks from midfield.

Sligo did it well, but that's the game Armagh play best. If Ford can draw yet more fire from his Sligo team then it promises to be a game of unstoppable effort and enthusiasm, but when time is called it's Armagh who can enjoy the talk of another day in Croke Park.

ARMAGH: B Tierney; E McNulty, J McNulty, F Bellow; A O'Rourke, K McGeeney, A McCann; J Toal, P McGrane; P McKeever, J McEntee, O McConville; S McDonnell, R Clarke, D Marsden.

SLIGO: J Curran; N Carew, N Clancy, P Naughton; N McGuire, B Philips, D Durkin; P Durcan, E O'Hara; J McPartland, K Quinn, D McGarty; D Sloyan, M Brehony, G McGowan.