Defeat on Saturday would see Kildare suffer the qualifier curse that has already put pay to Limerick, Westmeath and Cork this season.  Gavin Cummiskey talks to Kildare boss Padraig Nolan about his team's chances.

Defeat on Saturday would see Kildare suffer the qualifier curse that has already put pay to Limerick, Westmeath and Cork this season. How do you recover from a high profile defeat and then go out and do the business six days later?

This is the conundrum facing Padraig Nolan this week. In his first year at the helm of the Kildare football team he can reflect on an impressive victory over Meath and a brave fight to the death against Laois in a gripping Leinster decider. But now the fine line between success and failure for the year hinges on the fourth round qualifier against Roscommon in Portlaoise.

Mick O'Dwyer's swansong as Kildare manager last year was a defeat at the hands of his native Kerry at the same stage. Defeat to the defending All-Ireland champions is an acceptable finale to a campaign but this time around the Kildare faithful will go into battle with a greater level of expectancy.

"The key is to get the lads right mentally," said Nolan "The focus is on recovery. In a championship week not much training is done as the fitness is already there.

"You cannot be satisfied with defeat in the Leinster championship. There are no marks for gallant losers. We hope our season is far from over, yet there are objectives still to be achieved.

"Every match we play we look to improve. The Laois match was in our hands but we just did not get the vital scores; all over the field the team showed great character but take nothing away from Laois."

This strength of character will be a vital component when you are trying to raise the spirits of a team. But in order to be successful Kildare are also going to need some of the old heads to rise to the challenge.

The late withdrawals of captain Anthony Rainbow and Karl Ennis before last week's match was a cruel blow to the Lilywhites.

Glen Ryan's early introduction proved inspirational but the return of Rainbow and Ennis could be the morale booster that the side needs to get into the quarter-final draw on Sunday evening.

In order to give both players as much time as possible to recover, Nolan will resist the temptation to name his side until match day but indicated that both were making progress towards recovery.

Another player sorely missed the last day, and throughout the Leinster campaign, is Dermot Earley. Having one of the best midfielders in the country sidelined through injury puts a vice-like grip on resources.

Alan Barry stepped into the midfield breach but, within five minutes of the throw-in in last Sunday's final, he was sent-off after receiving a second yellow card. He received an automatic two-week ban as it was a repeat offence from the Lucan Sarsfields man, who received his marching orders for two bookable offences against Sligo in the league this year.

"We're appealing that," says Nolan, "We hope that natural justice will prevail. There is loads of video evidence and several commentators have spoken on the issue.

"He didn't warrant the second yellow card and it would be very wrong if Alan Barry missed out on this Saturday's game. We're still waiting to hear from Croke Park. He received enough punishment by missing most of the Leinster final."

"He went to play the ball and pulled away when he realised he wasn't going to get it. It was incidental contact," added Nolan.

As Offaly boss last year, Nolan faced his native county in two thrilling encounters before O'Dwyer's charges prevailed.

O'Dwyer had his number again last Sunday but with David Lyons, Andrew McLoughlin, Stuart McKenzie Smith, Martin Dunne and Barry all getting their first starts in a Leinster final Nolan has re-invigorated the side.

It will take a lot to outdo the work Micko did with the Lilywhites, but victory on Saturday would validate the progress he has achieved since taking charge.