Could this be the year that Laois's underage prodigies drag the county's senior set-up from the twilight? A concerted youth policy initiated in the late eighties has seen Laois become a dominant force at minor and under-21 level but that has yet to be bear fruit at senior level. After gaining promotion to Division One last year, Michael Dempsey's side went Down to Mayo in Crossmolina by a single point and despite etching out considerable wins found themselves demoted when the final bell rang. That said, they have been solid and Dempsey believes that it is time his side elbowed their way into serious provincial consideration. They will, however, be wary of Westmeath, who are already enjoying an extended run and are sticking with essentially the same team as defeated Longford in the preliminary round. With a smooth attack centring around corner forward Ger Heavin and a galvanised self-belief after two consecutive championship wins, Westmeath will arrive in Croke Park with their tails up. Croke Park, however, will not exactly be alien terrain to many of Laois's young hopefuls.

Team Selections

Laois: F Byron; M Buggy, E Delaney, A Phelan; D Lalor, J O'Reilly, C Parkinson; N Garvan, T Maher; K Fitzpatrick, I Fitzgerald, M Lawlor; S Kelly, H Emerson, C Conway.

Westmeath: D Ryan; D Brady, D Murphy, J O'Brien; D Healy, K Ryan, A Canning; J Cooney, D Gavin; M Staunton, P Conway, S Colleary; T Cleary, K Lyons, G Heavin.

Team News

A number of the Laois players who fell to Kerry in the All-Ireland under-21 final earlier this year are named, with Kevin Fitzpatrick, Ian Fitzgerald, Chris Conway and Stephen Kelly bringing both sharpness and rawness to the attack. For Westmeath, Thomas Cleary comes in for the injured John Deehan at corner forward in an otherwise unchanged team.

Key Confrontation

Westmeath's attack will orbit around Ger Heavin, who has amassed 2-10 to date. Laois are gambling slightly, with two debutant defenders and will have to do without the services of centre half back, Martin Delaney, a long-term casualty. If Laois gel defensively and dam the flow of ball towards Westmeath's front trio, they should progress.

View From The Camps

"I think that we are not all that far away. Of course we have it all to prove yet and tradition is against us but it's important that counties like Laois make the breakthrough." - Michael Dempsey (Laois manager).

"I think we have a good chance of winning on Sunday. The team have prepared well and it will be nice for those associated with football in Westmeath to be travelling up and seeing the team play in Croke Park. It's a big day for the county but this is what football is all about: trying to compete at the highest level'.

- Brendan Lowry (Westmeath manager).

Verdict: Laois.