Section A

Louth v Mayo, Drogheda - Last bus for Louth if they want to hold on to the Division One status, so hard-won last year, in the Church & General National League. Paddy Clarke leaves a vacancy at midfield which will probably be filled by Stephen Melia with either Paul or Colin Kelly moving into the forwards. After a bright start, Louth have struggled to get results against the other contenders in this section. Inexperience in defence is one of the factors, according to management. Mayo visit as table-toppers with a quarter-finals' place in their own hands. Diarmuid Byrne is this week's full forward but otherwise the Connacht champions have a familiar look which may be sufficient tomorrow but will await sterner tests as the year progresses.

Leitrim v Laois, Carrick-on-Shannon - Under Peter McGinnity, Leitrim have rediscovered a sense of purpose and substantially a new team. They battled against Mayo last time out and weren't far adrift at the end. Laois touched off Louth with Michael Lawlor the main instrument but they may struggle in Carrick against a fit and determined home side.

Galway v Carlow, Tuam - All over bar the shouting for Galway after the decisive win over Fermanagh a fortnight ago. There will be interest in Michael Donnellan's positioning at midfield - evidence that the sector remains a problem for John O'Mahony. With a remaining programme of this match and one against Kilkenny, whom Carlow struggled to beat, not even the sin of presumption can stop Galway.

Kilkenny v Fermanagh, Clara, 1.00 - Fermanagh have had a poor season to date but should set up a deciding match against Carlow by winning this.

Section B

Antrim v Donegal, Casement Park - Antrim have always given Donegal vigorous matches in recent years. This will be a dress rehearsal for the championship but more immediately an opportunity for Donegal to sew up their quarter-final place, depending on results elsewhere. For a side that was content at the start of the season to retain Division Two status, this has been a gratifying campaign for Declan Bonner. Antrim on the other hand have struggled and are short-odds for Division Four - shorter by tomorrow evening.

Derry v Meath, Celtic Park, 2.30 - It was Harry Chivers's proud boast that during his tenure as chairman, Derry had never lost a League match to Meath. Jim McKeever is now guardian of this proud heritage and may find it instantly under threat. Derry staged a late rally last year to reach the quarter-finals and must do so again. Meath, however, look the better bet. With Tommy Dowd and Brendan Reilly restored to the team the attack has more firepower.

Armagh v Longford, Armagh - After their good win in Navan a fortnight ago, Armagh are beginning to shape up as long-term prospects. Longford gave Derry a run for their money but won't take anything more tangible out of this.

Today

Westmeath v London, Castletowngeoghegan - This will probably decide the visitors' fate as Division Four tenants next season and leave Westmeath to go on and dispute with Antrim as to who will join them there.

Section C

Tyrone v Dublin, Dungannon, 2.30 - Contrasting results two weeks ago have brought this pair to the brink of very different fates. Tyrone are nearly in the quarter-finals whereas Dublin are nearly in Division Three. Although their training schedule is particularly severe at the moment, the excuse is an old chestnut for bad performances at this time of the year. Six changes indicate that the quality of the team which lost to Monaghan was a problem. All through the centre of his team, Tom Carr has problems as he awaits the return to form of some players and the emergence of others. Tyrone's side is stronger than the one which beat Kerry and can take the points here.

Monaghan v Kerry, Clones - Made to look dazzling by Dublin, Monaghan will entertain hopes of guaranteeing themselves at least Division Two football next season. Kerry, never having been out of the top flight, are now staring Division Three in the face. Maybe this will lend an urgency to proceedings tomorrow.

Wexford v Sligo, Enniscorthy, 3.00 - Hard to imagine that last year Sligo were a division below Wexford as the Leinster team looks set for a nul points tally at the end of the season. Sligo's improvement was well attested by the robust draw with Offaly and they should edge closer to at a least a Division Two berth.

Offaly v Cavan, Tullamore - The meeting of Leinster and Ulster champions is rendered a bit low-key by Cavan's awful season to date. Offaly, having built on last year's miraculous advances, should win this and guarantee themselves a quarter-final place.

Section D

Clare v Waterford, Cusack Park, 3.00 - Clare's late raid on a quarter-final place was brought to a halt by Kildare when John O'Keeffe's men gave away far too many frees. Waterford's young team has yet to make an impact in the League despite some good McGrath Cup displays and that's unlikely to change tomorrow.

Tipperary v Wicklow, Cashel - A critical fixture for these teams. Tipperary are a point ahead of their opponents in the race to avoid being third-from-bottom of the table (given the nine-team section, three counties will be bound for Division Four). This will be an edgy afternoon for Wicklow who stand to pay a heavy price for the defeat by Limerick earlier this month but they are narrowly favoured to leapfrog Tipperary.

Down v Limerick, Newry, 2.00 - This is more important than it looks. Down will win but more than that, they should put up a reasonable score which will boost their scoring average, already superior to Kildare's. Even assuming that the Leinster team win against Roscommon, Down will then need only to win their final match also against Roscommon to secure a quarterfinal place.

Roscommon v Kildare, Dr Hyde Park - Kildare are strengthened by the return of Glen Ryan, although Dermot Earley's suspension weakens the midfield. Roscommon's lack of scoring power has dogged their campaign and should do so again tomorrow.