MEATH v GALWAY (Navan, Tomorrow, 2.0)
SHANE O'Rourke makes his first League start in over two years in what represents Mick O'Dowd's strongest team available. Wing forward, Cillian O'Sullivan - who scored 2-5 in two O'Byrne Cup starts and two sub appearances - makes his debut.
ODDS: Meath 8/15, Draw 15/2, Galway 15/8 VERDICT: Meath
LAOIS v DONEGAL (Portlaoise, Tomorrow, 2.0)
THE promise of a return to a more aesthetically endearing style under Tomás Ó Flatharta may hit one or two reality checks over the spring and a re-energised Donegal team bearing the names of nine All-Ireland starters from 2012 looks likey to be the first.
ODDS: Laois 7/4, Draw 7/1, Donegal 8/13 VERDICT: Donegal
LOUTH v ARMAGH (Drogheda, Tomorrow, 2.0)
ELEVEN injury absentees means Paul Grimley hands out four debuts in a pretty watered-down XV to take on Louth, for whom Brian White, Shane Lennon, Ray Finnegan and Derek Crilly are out.
ODDS: Louth 4/5, Draw 15/2, Armagh 5/4 VERDICT: Louth
DOWN v MONAGHAN (Newry, Tonight, 7.0)
OWEN Lennon returned to the Ulster champions' setup this week, joining fellow veteran Paul Finlay and Dick Clerkin, meaning only Tommy Freeman, from their 2013 panel, has yet to decide on his future.
ODDS: Down 10/11, Draw 13/2, Monaghan 6/5 VERDICT: Down
BIG CAVAN YEAR BECKONS
WEXFORD v OFFALY (Wexford Park, Tomorrow, 2.0)
DUAL player Conor Mahon has returned to the Offaly footballer's setup for their trip to Wexford, for whom Graeme Molloy was named captain for the year.
ODDS: Wexford 2/5, Draw 15/2, Offaly 5/2 VERDICT: Wexford
CAVAN v FERMANAGH (Breffi Park, Tonight, 7.0)
GREEN shoots are popping up all over the Breffni County and duly, they're being whispered for Ulster success. Promotion this year, an absolute must.
ODDS: Cavan 2/7, Draw 15/2, Fermanagh 10/3 VERDICT: Cavan
LONGFORD v ROSCOMMON (Pearse Park, Tomorrow, 2.0)
BRIAN Kavanagh may miss out a first League game in three years for Longford after sustaining an injury in a drawn challenge match with Galway last week.
ODDS: Longford 11/8, Draw 7/1, Roscommon 8/11 VERDICT: Longford
SLIGO v LIMERICK (Markievicz Park , Tomorrow, 2.0)
JOHN Galvin - who is considering his future with Limerick - Stephen Lavin and Stephen Lucey will all miss out for the Treaty County this week in what is Pat Flanagan's managerial bow with Sligo.
ODDS: Sligo 4/6, Draw 7/1, Limerick 6/4 VERDICT: Sligo
WICKLOW ON THE UP
WICKLOW v LONDON (Aughrim, Tomorrow, 2.0)
TWO wins from three in the O'Byrne Cup bodes well for Wicklow, even if London should pose trickier opposition this year, post-Connacht final appearance.
ODDS: Wicklow 1/5, Draw 8/1, London 5/1
VERDICT: Wicklow
CARLOW v TIPPERARY (Dr Cullen Park, Tomorrow, 2.0)
BY contrast, Carlow had perhaps the worst January of any team, losing (heavily) to Longford, as well as a third-string Kildare and worst of all, Athlone IT.
ODDS: Carlow 10/3, Draw 15/2, Tipperary 3/10 VERDICT: Tipperary
LEITRIM v ANTRIM (Carrick-On-Shannon, Tomorrow, 2.0)
SILVERWARE banked with the FBD League, Seán Hagan leads his team into a very winnable opener against Antrim.
ODDS: Leitrim 13/8, Draw 7/1, Antrim 8/13 VERDICT: Leitrim
WATERFORD v CLARE (Fraher Field, Tomorrow, 2.0)
PODGE and Seán Collins are set to begin an interesting season playing both with hurling's top ranked side and one of football's lowest.
ODDS: Waterford 11/8, Draw 7/1, Clare 8/11 VERDICT: Clare
- COMPILED BY CONOR McKEON