Dublin's muted effort to prevail

DUBLIN v WESTMEATH: A curious afternoon in prospect at Croke Park where the paths of Tommy Lyons and Páidí Ó Sé cross in unlikely circumstances.

Westmeath, after a pallid enough winter, developed late in the spring and rediscovered some of the confidence which made them the novel side of recent seasons.

A first-round win over Offaly came at the cost of a suspension to Rory O'Connell, however, and the evidence suggests the side has insufficient depth to survive the loss of big names.

After last year's dark flop, Lyons is back again looking for a repeat of his blockbusting debut season of 2002. The working title for the current production is Honey, I Shrunk The Profile! and the atmosphere of paranoia is such the director refuses to release so much as a cast list to the trade media.

All of which is a concern. If the Dubs are going to be box-office stars they need certainty in their lives. The swagger of old was built on simple, seemingly immutable truths. Dublin teams were big, strong and glamourous. All confidence flowed from that.

Tomorrow Hill 16 will be empty for construction work. It would remain that way if one populated it only with those who could guess with confidence which 15 Dublin will start with.

Through every line of the field there is guesswork to be done. Bryan Murphy for Stephen Cluxton (exams) in goal seems a done deal.

The corner back positions have Dave Henry and Paul Griffin in front but Lyons is an admirer of Barry Cahill.

The half-back line has only one certainty. Shane Ryan has moved from strength to strength over the winter. The number-six jersey is a conundrum, though. Bryan Cullen would be the choice of most fans, but fans will not be picking the team. Darren Magee was tried there during the league but will be under pressure from Cahill.

Who will accompany Ciarán Whelan in midfield? Darren Homan? Darren Magee?

Up front the magic hasn't come back in to Ray Cosgrove's feet. The forwards look like a choice from Conal Keaney, Senan Connell, Bryan Cullen, Alan Brogan, Tomás Quinn and Jason Sherlock. No natural full forward there but lots of pace and intelligence. The recalled Robbie Boyle is an option for late on in games.

Dublin have seldom gone in to a championship with such little fuss or fanfare but they should prevail tomorrow. Westmeath have issues of nerve against big-name sides and if Dublin score early they could score often.