Sean Cavanagh’s versatility could yet prove a key element in Tyrone’s bid to make it into the closing stages of the All Ireland Football Championship.

Last weekend, the Moy clubman helped himself to five points as the Red Hands cruised past Louth — and he still found time to bolster the midfield area in the second-half.

Cavanagh could again find himself fulfiling a dual role when Tyrone confront Westmeath at Omagh on Saturday (3.00pm) in the second round of the All Ireland Qualifiers.

“Obviously I have mostly played at midfield for Tyrone but I don’t mind where I play really,” says Cavanagh whose bother Colm was a substitute for the Louth game when Martin Penrose and Colm McCullagh flanked Sean in the full-forward line.

Enda McGinley and Ryan Mellon formed the midfield but when Louth threatened to impose themselves there at one stage, Cavanagh was summoned out to act in the role of firefighter.

In the past,. Cavanagh has also played at wing-forward for Tyrone and even from midfield he has figured on the scoresheet regularly.

“It’s always a challenge to play up front. Tyrone have had some exceptional players there in the likes of Peter Canavan and Stephen O’Neill and I certainly don’t regard myself as being in that class. But if I’m asked to do a job by Mickey Harte, I will always give it my best shot,” says Cavanagh.

Tyrone go in against a Westmeath side who overcame Tipperary last week-end and who have one of the tightest defences in the country.

“Westmeath never give much away. They have worked on their defensive strategy well and are always difficult to score against,” agrees Cavanagh.

The midlanders may be without first-choice midfield duo Martin Flanagan and David Duffy because of injuries while manager Tomas O Flatharta may also make

changes to his attack from which the experienced Fergal Wilson has been an absentee.

O Flathearta certainly did not mince his words following what he felt was a singularly unimpressive win over Tipperary.

“I thought we made it hard for ourselves. We took wrong options and generally struggled even though we won handsomely enough on the scoreboard on the end.

“Tyrone will be a different proposition altogether and that showing against Tipperary will come nowhere near meeting the mark in Omagh on Saturday. Tyrone have been gaining in strength and confidence and we are preparing for a very difficult battle,” says O’Fhatharta.

Denis Glennon and Dessie Dolan offer a formidable twin threat in the Westmeath attack while John Keane and Mark Ennis are two of the best defenders in the country.