Dublin's rehabilitation should climb another notch at Croke Park tomorrow when they account for Roscommon in the first game of the double-header.

Roscommon are coming off the back of a harrowing experience in the Connacht final against Mayo and it will be difficult for Tom Carr to lift his team against his native county for this game. It is the type of game Roscommon would have relished last year when they were on a high but the wheels came off the wagon in crushing fashion during the Connacht championship and before that when they failed to gain promotion in the National League.

Dublin, on the other hand, are regrouping after recovering from the crushing defeat to Westmeath in the Leinster championship, a loss that no longer appears as shabby as it was made out to be at the time - after all Páidí Ó Sé's men are now the Leinster champions. There is no doubt Tommy Lyons's team has benefited from a reasonably straightforward passage to this stage of the competition, facilitated by some easier draws than might have been anticipated. The team boasts a more settled look especially with Bryan Cullen settling in at centre-half back and Ciarán Whelan being able to give free rein to his attacking flair at centre-half forward.

Paul Griffin's move has enabled him to demonstrate his athletic quality and he is an integral part in a Dublin defence that ranks amongst the more miserly left in the competition. In midfield there could be the accusation Darren Magee and Darren Homan are too similar but they had decent matches against Longford the last day. They probably don't complement each other in terms of style and Dublin occasionally lack a bit of mobility in this area.

The return after two years of Ian Robertson following injury has answered Dublin's shortcoming in the full-forward area, one that had been apparent since Ray Cosgrove's All Star year - the latter's loss of form and the lack of suitable replacement until now had been keenly felt.

Alan Brogan is back on form and the Dublin forward line is beginning to move, especially on the evidence of their performance after about 40 minutes of the Longford game. The free-taking is still an issue. Tomás Quinn scored three the last day but it still remains to be seen whether any of the designated free-takers are prolific in tight, tense tussles.

Now that the Dubs are back in Croke Park in front of their huge support it should encourage the return of some of the old swagger, especially if they get off to a good start. This would have the effect of confirming the improvement made against Longford while compounding the problems that have arisen for Roscommon.

In mitigation they are not as bad as they looked the last day against Mayo. If they throw caution to the wind and manage to get their big players producing performances of that calibre then a victory is not out of the question but the more likely outcome is a five or six-point Dublin win.

A revamped Laois side must not only face the defending All-Ireland champions Tyrone, but overcome the injustice of the qualifier series. They've had just six days to prepare for this match, their third major match - it includes a Leinster final, a Leinster final replay and tomorrow's game - within as many weeks. Before that they had a four-week break after beating Meath in the Leinster semi-final. The GAA will have to address the scheduling issue.

Mick O'Dwyer has opted to drop three seasoned players - Colm Byrne, Michael Lawlor and Martin Delaney, all of whom missed training earlier this week - and has brought the inexperienced trio of Cathal Ryan, Shane Cooke and Paul Lawlor. Darren Rooney, Tom Kelly and Beano McDonald play but have question marks hanging over their fitness levels.

Tyrone are in much better shape having enjoyed two weeks of preparation for this match. Apart from the late Cormac McAnallen and the injured Enda McGinley they have last year's All-Ireland squad on duty. They can even afford the luxury of having Peter Canavan on the bench.

Shane Sweeney has excelled since he was introduced for Gavin Devlin at centre-half back and he seems a better all-round player in terms of ball distribution and attacking flair. Tyrone also have a potent midfield combination with Seán Cavanagh in particular playing well, ghosting inside to score crucial goals. Padraic Clancy and Noel Garvan are going to have their hands full.

Gerard Cavlan is another option for the high ball and brings physical presence to the half-forward line where Brian Dooher traditionally picks up the scraps. Tyrone, though, are not yet comparable to last year's vintage in terms of performances. There is a problem in the full-back line, especially the number-three jersey. They appeared to have solved it after the drawn Ulster final following a decision to relocate Conor Gormley but he hasn't been road tested in the heat of battle.

Another aspect of why the jury is still out on the 2004 crop is that Tyrone don't seem to have recaptured last year's voracious work ethic.

Laois need their forwards to thrive, win more of the 50-50 battles, but even then it will only make them competitive. Tyrone to join Derry and Fermanagh as qualifiers for the All-Ireland quarter-finals.