Underdogs Wicklow have a couple of things in their favour this weekend - home advantage and a game under their belt.

Harry Murphy's men were full value for their two points - 1-15 to 0-16 - opening day victory over Longford and will quietly fancy their chances of pulling of another upset against the Royal County.

Seanie Furlong took the scoring plaudits with 1-5 but it was an impressive all-round team performance by the Garden County with centre-back Paddy McWalter and centre-forward James Stafford also catching the eye.

The Aughrim factor can't be ignored either because it has proven to be a graveyard for many a championship winning dream in the past.

The visitors make their championship bow and new manager Mick O'Dowd has handed debuts to corner forward Eamon Wallace and Michael Newman.

Elsewhere, experienced duo Caoimhin King and Mickey Burke have been named in the half-back line despite having not featured in the Royal County's FL Division 3 campaign while exciting young forward prospect Damien Carroll is selected at centre-forward after successfully recovering from a broken ankle.

Meath recorded a 0-16 to 0-11 victory over the Garden County in the opening round 12 months ago but Wicklow were left to ponder what might in Carlow that day after Leighton Glynn departed the action injured early in the second half and midfielder James Stafford was sent off late on.

In their most recent meeting in the league, Meath coasted to a 0-16 to 0-8 victory in round 2 at Aughrim back in February with Newman sending over five points for the winners.

This weekend's contest is likely to be closer than many people think and the end result could boil down to the strength of the respective benches.

Meath hold the advantage in that regard with the likes of Seamus Kenny, Brian Farrell and Joe Sheridan on standby and ready for action.

Verdict: Meath

Wicklow: tba

Meath: Paddy O'Rourke; Donal Keogan, Kevin Reilly, Bryan Menton; Ciaran Lenehan, Caoimhin King, Michael Burke; Brian Meade, Conor Gillespie; Peadar Byrne, Damian Carroll, Graham Reilly; Eamon Wallace, Stephen Bray, Michael Newman.

Referee: Conor Lane.

Odds: Wicklow 10/3, Draw 8/1, Meath 2/7

Match Details:Aughrim, 7pm, Saturday, June 15th Tweet

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