This promises to be a lively affair between two teams with satisfactory if not exactly flawless performances behind them and a bit of needle developing off the pitch. Laois's win over Westmeath was the more noteworthy as it was the less expected. After a poor National League and some difficulties on the home front, they weren't seen as likely to bother Westmeath's impressive preliminary-round winners.

That they won convincingly reflects great credit on manager Tom Cribbin. His appointment didn't set the church bells pealing in the county but he had done enough with Clane in Kildare to suggest that he was a thorough, thoughtful manager and, more importantly, a strong-minded one.

His firm but perfectly fair handling of Colm Parkinson proved the point and team morale benefited from the leadership even if the former underage star has exiled himself in the US. With the right leadership, there was no doubting the emerging talent in the county. The question was and remains the extent to which those players can adapt to the discipline and demands of senior inter-county activity.

So far so good. In his off-the-field pronouncements Cribbin has proved an enthusiastic practitioner of stirring things up. His reminder that Dublin thought they'd be playing Westmeath has been used to motivate his players although Tom Carr insists that he was only giving a candid answer when asked who he thought would win between Westmeath and Laois. "I've been around a bit too long to overlook potential opponents," he said, "and I didn't."

Similarly Carr protested about Cribbin's unsubtle pressurising of referee Seamus Prior when talking about Dublin's physical game.

On the field, Dublin's advantage lies in their more mature attack. Des Farrell, Jim Gavin and Declan Darcy have seen enough of the world to pose a problem for Laois's inexperienced defence. Carr is careful not to talk up his hopes for Ian Robertson but the Ballymun player gave a good account of himself at full forward and despite the cautionary horses-for-courses explanation of the deployment, he's back on the edge of the square.

Laois's established centre-field of Barney Maher and George Doyle should make things lively for Ciaran Whelan and Brian Stynes and up front the mid-landers' attack looks their most promising sector.

This is partly because the jury is still out on Dublin's defence. Management dissatisfaction can be partly seen in the sudden recall of Paul Croft to half back after a three-month suspension. There was no doubting Croft's entitlement to a place before his suspension but two dismissals during the league testify to his hot-headedness - something which needs curbing if he is to exploit his defensive talents to the full.

Ian Fitzgerald is set to play on Keith Galvin and will punish any looseness. On the inside line, Hughie Emerson and Damien Delaney will similarly exert pressure on Dublin's most doubtful line.

The belief that Dublin will win is, however, based on the greater strength and experience of their forwards and the team's richer scoring potential from centrefield.

Tickets for the match will be available at Jones's Road today from 11.0 a.m. to 4.0 p.m. Prices range from £7 for terrace to £15 for the New Stand.