Donegal manager Declan Bonner is confident they will have captain Michael Murphy “ready for championship.”

The 31-year-old Glenswilly clubman has been ruled out of Saturday's Allianz Football League Division 1 semi-final meeting with All-Ireland champions Dublin at Kingspan Breffni after a hamstring tear suffered in the drawn tie against Monaghan last month.

Bonner's men will open their Ulster championship campaign with a first round clash away to Down on 27 June.

“Michael's not too far away but won't be involved this weekend,” Bonner told BBC Sport at a press conference today.

“We'll have him ready for championship and that's the priority at this stage.”

The Tir Chonaill boss is relishing the prospect of facing the Dubs in preparation for the Anglo-Celt Cup opener.

“We want to go out there and get a performance. Naturally enough you want to win it. It's a huge task against Dublin who are going extremely well and have all their big guns out,” he added.

“It's going to be a real test no doubt but it's also a real opportunity and challenge for our guys to put their hand up two weeks out from championship.”

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