Down have a chance to get the show back on the road when they face London in the All Ireland football qualifiers in Newry on Saturday evening.

Losing to Fermangh in Brewster Park back in May was a bitter pill to swallow, but the spirit of 2008 should serve them well for on that occasion they overcame All Ireland champions to be Tyrone in an epic battle at Pairc Esler.

Manager Ross Carr has had to plan for Saturday night without talented defender Luke Howard, who is a special talent.

“His absence is a big blow to us. The bigger the game the better he plays,” said Carr.

“There’s no point bringing anyone into the squad at this stage. If they were good enough they would have been in by now.”

Carr readily concedes it’s a no win situation for the Mourne men.

“If we win and win well so what. Some critics have written us off because in their eyes we lost to three hurling counties, Tipperary, Limerick and Wexford,” said Carr.

“They forget that Tipp were beaten by Limerick who play Cork in the Munster final on Sunday, while Wexford got to last season’s All Ireland semi-final where they lost to Tyrone; the All Ireland champions.”

Whether you are a fan of the qualifiers or not, the reality is that this is where the real action begins.

Armagh and Monaghan have been fierce rivals for as long as they care to remember and their head to head in Clones shouldn’t disappoint.

The Orchard county men will be without the injured Stephen Kernan, but on the plus side Charlie Vernon returns after recovering from a broken jaw.

Monaghan for their part will be hoping and praying that ace marksman Tommy Freeman will be given the all clear to play.

It seems manager Seamus McEnaney may have to wait until the 11th hour before knowing whether Freeman will be eligible.

The player was banned for eight weeks after the Derry and Monaghan championship game.

His case was due to be heard before the DRA this week, but Croke Park is allowing the matter to go before the Central Appeals Committee again.

If the latter proves unsuccessful, going before the DRA will leave things very tight if Monaghan hope to have their star man on the pitch for Saturday evening.

Meanwhile injuries to three first choice defenders have decimated Mick O’Dwyer’s Wicklow side ahead of their game with Fermanagh in Aughrim.

Damien Power, Alan Byrne and Paddy Dalton are all ruled out after sustaining injuries against Westmeath.

Meath too have a number of injury concerns ahead of their outing against Waterford. Captain Stephen Bray is out with a hamstring injury while Anthony Moyles, Barry Regan and Cormac McGuinness are all doubtful.

Leitrim, who lost Emlyn Mulligan for the season and then Michael Foley just before they played Roscommon, are hoping that third choice free taker James Glancy will be fit to play against Longford.

Glancy has had minor cartilage surgery since coming off against Roscommon.