The Ulster club football championship comes to a climax with a satisfying clash of styles in Belfast. Neither side is flawless.

Mayobridge, fast moving, cohesive and at times slick and explosive, have had an erratic campaign to date, whereas Crossmaglen - playing their familiar power game - have negotiated their hurdles with a hint of struggle and without playing at their best.

Both teams are troubled by issues of unavailability.

The Down champions are almost resigned to losing Mickey Linden who conducts their attacking movements, after an injury picked up last week.

His absence would be a potentially devastating blow for a team that has already lost inter-county talent Michael Walsh to long-term injury and Ronan Sexton, who has a faint chance of making an appearance tomorrow.

Cross have had to toil in the absence of John McEntee, away on honeymoon, a veteran of the three All-Ireland wins.

In Linden's absence, a huge burden falls on Benny Coulter, who has been performing well despite a leg problem but who may now have to drive the attack.

Mayobridge showed the two sides of their potential against Carrickmore when they almost buried the match in the first half but let the Tyrone champions back into it after the break.

The heart-stopping nature of that win could be said to set them up for what will be an ultra-competitive match, but Crossmaglen have the edge in terms of the hard road, which led them to two difficult matches against Slaughtneil and a semi-final with Cavan Gaels in which they struggled to dominate in midfield.

This match's central issue will be Linden's availability and, on the basis that he can hardly be at full fitness, Crossmaglen get the vote to take their challenge to All-Ireland level.