Offaly v Antrim (Saturday, Croke Park, 2.15)Both teams could do without this sortie to Croke Park. Offaly manager John McIntyre wants to put the hurleys away until winter while managerless Antrim would prefer the season never started.

Since Dinny Cahill said adieu after a failure by players to equal the commitment of his 400-mile round trip from Tipperary, Antrim pulled together. Brendan Herron and Gavin Bell returned to training, while Brian McFall, Chris Hamill and Mickey McCambridge are back from injury. McIntyre sees plenty of pitfalls as Antrim fight for their Liam McCarthy status.

"They have regrouped," he said, "while Offaly are not ruthless enough yet. This will be a dogfight and, like all teams in the qualifiers, Antrim see us as a team they can beat. With 10 minutes to go, if Antrim are still in touch the Armagh and Tyrone fans will start arriving and they won't be cheering for Offaly."

With Niall Claffey still injured (hamstring) and Dylan Hayden's departure to America this week, the potential for disaster exists but Offaly players should still have enough in reserve.

Teams to be announced. Referee: M Haverty (Galway)

Laois v Dublin (Saturday, Dr Cullen Park, 7.0)

After some early-season drubbings, Dublin are regaining confidence but lose here and they go into a fight to the death, more than likely with Antrim. Manager Tommy Naughton must dig deep into the well though as Laois are coming off the back of a semi-respectable campaign by beating every team they were expected to, and that includes Dublin. Manager Paudie Butler has Laois playing consistent hurling, while James Young ensures frees, even remotely in range, go over the bar. Butler has made four changes with goalkeeper Kevin Galvin, Brian Campion, Cahir Healy and midfielder Enda Maher coming in to strengthen the rearguard.

Dublin are hoping to field a similar team to what pushed Offaly to one point but four key players are playing their second championship match in four days. Under-21 players Ger O'Meara, Ronan Fallon and Peadar and Michael Carton all played against Kilkenny last Wednesday in the brave provincial final defeat. If these four lift their game once more, Dublin can put the hurleys away.

LAOIS (SHC v Dublin): K Galvin; B Campion, P Cuddy, C Healy; M McEvoy, John Walsh, S O'Dwyer; James Walsh, E Maher; J Rowney, J Young, L Tynan; T Fitzgerald, M Rooney, D Culleton.

DUBLIN: To be announced.

Referee: B White (Tipperary).