Mayo, providers of a dramatic late comeback in the minor football semi-final two weeks back, are out to make amends for last year's All-Ireland final when they lost out by a goal to Down.
The team is forced to await pre-match fitness tests on Alan Dillon (hamstring injury) and Conor Mortimer (knee ligament damage) for today's replay with Leinster champions Westmeath, otherwise the changes will be kept to the minimum.
Set for Carrick-on-Shannon (3.30), it will decide who earns the right to meet Cork - controversial winners over Derry - in the final in Croke Park later this month. Westmeath had four points to spare as the semi-final entered the final five minutes, only for Mayo's Paul Prenty to provide the thundering goal that forced the game to a replay.
Not surprisingly, Westmeath have made changes - four in total. Gary Flanagan replaces Niall Kilmartin at midfield, while Ciaran Brennan and Andrew McCormack come in for Nigel Adamson and Gordon McDonnell respectively. PJ Ward will also return to strengthen the attack with Liam Reilly the man to lose out in the full-forward line.
It will be hard for Westmeath to get as good a start as the last day (they had a 1-4 to 0-5 lead at half-time) although midfielders Padraig Leavey and Niall Kilmartin certainly had the edge in the area for most of the drawn match.
Mayo played their best football in the last quarter with midfielders Edmond Barrett and Alan Burke finally making an impression, Westmeath manager Ambrose McGowan admitted that Mayo "had the force with them" in the closing stages and he was happy to get the second chance.
With a more balanced game this time out, Mayo should progress. "Thankfully, we got into the drawn match in the closing 10 minutes when it really mattered," said Mayo manager JP Kean. This afternoon, if they get into the match a lot earlier, the final berth should be theirs.
