Both Westmeath and Louth will be hoping to put disappointing league campaigns behind them when they go head-to-head in the Leinster SFC on Saturday evening.

The home side failed to collect a single point in Division 1 while Aidan O'Rourke's Wee County outfit suffered the ignominy of relegation to Division 3.

Paul Bealin's first Westmeath championship selection includes one debutant in the form of midfielder Ray Connellan from Athlone.

Otherwise it's a pretty experienced outfit and Lake County supporters will look to their much-vaunted full-forward line of Denis Glennon, John Heslin and Dessie Dolan to make the most of any possession that comes their way.

Aidan O'Rourke has included one debutant in his Louth team with U-21 star Patrick Reilly getting the nod at right half-forward. Exciting minor talent Ryan Burns, meanwhile, is named on the bench.

The former Armagh All-Ireland winner reckons Louth suffers from an inferiority complex that is holding them back.

"There is a certain mindset that exists within the county. They don't expect to do well," he said during the week.

With players of the calibre of Dessie Finnegan, Derek Crilly, Paddy Keenan, Brian White, Andy McDonnell and Shane Lennon, the team in red and white can't be discounted but the Paul Sharry-captained Westmeath were operating at a higher level in the league and appear best equipped to book a quarter-final date with Kildare.

Verdict - Westmeath.

Westmeath team: Darren Quinn; Damian Dolan, Kieran Gavin, Kevin Maguire; Ronan Foley, Paul Sharry, James Dolan; David Duffy, Ray Connellan; Callum McCormack, Ger Egan, Kieran Martin; Denis Glennon, John Heslin, Dessie Dolan.

Louth team: Neil Gallagher; Padraig Rath, Dessie Finnegan, Gary O'Hare; John O'Brien, Derek Crilly, Adrian Reid; Paddy Keenan, Mick Fanning; Patrick Reilly, Brian White, Andy McDonnell; Declan Byrne, Shane Lennon, Derek Maguire.

Match details: Saturday, Cusack Park, 7pm.

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois).

Odds: Westmeath 4/6, Draw 8/1, Louth 6/4. Tweet

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