Down boss James McCartan is hoping home advantage can swing their qualifier clash against Kildare in their favour.

"We see a team that we can beat," he said during the week. "But they can beat us. We would both like to think of ourselves as top 10 teams but we are probably at the lower end of it.

"Both of us would be happy enough with the draws that we got. We would be hoping that home venue will swing it for us."

The Lilywhites' Leinster SFC exit at the hands of Meath generated plenty of criticism of manager Jason Ryan and his players.

They will be eager to set the record straight against a Down team who enjoyed a facile 4-18 to 0-9 rout of Leitrim on their last outing.

They won't have it as easy this time around and Kildare get the vote to bounce back.

Verdict - Kildare.

Down team: Michael Cunningham; Daniel McCartan, Niall Donnelly, Darren O'Hagan; Ciaran McCartan, Conor Garvey, Kevin McKernan; Dan Gordon, Peter Turley; Brendan Coulter, Conor Maginn, Mark Poland; Donal O'Hare, Niall Madine, Conor Laverty.

Kildare team: Mark Donnellan; Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Hugh McGrillen, Ollie Lyons; Emmet Bolton, Fergal Conway, Keith Cribbin; Tommy Moolick, Gary White; Cathal McNally, Niall Kelly, Padraig O'Neill; Eamonn Callaghan, Padraig Fogarty, Paddy Brophy.

Match details: Sunday, Pairc Esler, 2pm, extra-time playable.

Referee: David Coldrick.

Odds: Down 5/6, Draw 15/2, Kildare 6/5. Tweet

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