With Mick O'Dwyer's fourth season as Laois football manager widely expected to be his last, team selector Declan O'Loughlin has admitted the importance of finally making the breakthrough at national level in 2006.
Although Laois won the Leinster title in O'Dwyer's first year in charge and were narrowly defeated in the last two provincial deciders, they have consistently faltered in the All-Ireland series.
"They now have three years of solid training behind them," said O'Loughlin. "They are stronger, fitter and better prepared than ever before so they have a point to prove. This is a very important year for this panel but they are in good shape as the oldest players are still only 27 or 28."
Colm Parkinson is unavailable for Sunday's National Football League opener against Wexford in O'Moore Park due to a minor knee injury, while Barry Brennan must undergo a fitness test for a damaged Achilles tendon. Ross Munnelly is expected to make his first inter-county start of the season.
The Central Appeals Committee lifted Munnelly's 12-week ban, handed down by the Higher Education Committee, last month, when the DCU post-graduate student was suspended, along with Dessie Dolan, Diarmuid Kinsella and Shane Ryan, after being deemed ineligible to play at third level. The University are awaiting clarification from the HEC ahead of the Sigerson Cup quarter-final next week.
O'Loughlin also added fuel to the rumours that Brendan Quigley's switch to Aussie Rules with the Brisbane Lions may be coming to a premature end.
"We have heard the rumours that he is unhappy, but nothing concrete. Pádraig Clancy, who is from the same club in Timahoe, said at training the other night that he may be back in the next three or four weeks.
"When home at Christmas he indicated he was unhappy. To make it over there, a player must put in at least a nine-month apprenticeship. It would be Laois's gain if he were to return as he is a massive prospect."
Colm Cooper and Séamus Moynihan are notable absentees from the Kerry team to play Mayo in tomorrow's league opener under lights (7.45pm) at Austin Stack Park, Tralee.
Cooper is named amongst the replacements as Jack O'Connor gives Darren O'Sullivan a start at corner forward. Tomás Ó Sé starts at midfield alongside brother Darragh, while Mossie Lawlor and Pádraig Reidy are given a chance in defence.
Mayo manager Mickey Moran has left a vacancy at midfield with the prodigal Kevin O'Neill a strong contender to make a starting return as regular midfielder Ronan McGarrity is on basketball duty with Ballina. David Brady and younger brother Ger are carrying minor injuries. Last year's captain Ciarán McDonald is yet to rejoin the panel.
A number of experienced regulars have been brought on to a much changed Kildare team to face Armagh in the opening round of the league. Enda Murphy, the newly appointed captain, returns in goal and Glen Ryan and Dermot Earley also make a return to competitive action. Ryan replaces John Divilly and Earley returns in place of Killian Brennan.
Earley will be partnered at midfield by Mick Foley, who comes in for Hugh Lynch. In the forward line, David Jordan replaces Pádraig O'Neill while Pádraig Brennan is in for Tadhg Fennin.
KILDARE (v Armagh): E Murphy; A McLoughlin, K O'Neill, J Lonergan; A Rainbow, G Ryan, D Lyons; D Earley, M Foley; D Jordan, D McCormack, J Doyle; P Brennan, A Kelly, E Callaghan.
ARMAGH (v Kildare): C McKinney; P Duffy, F Bellew, E McNulty; JP Donnelly, C McKeever, A Mallon; J McEntee, K McGeeney; P Keenan, S Kernan, T McEntee; S McDonnell, G Swift, L O'Hare.
MAYO (v Kerry): F Ruddy; T Howley, D Heaney, K Higgins; P Kelly, J Nallen, P Gardiner; J Gill, AN Other; A Dillon, G Brady, A Moran; C Mortimer, A O'Malley, P Casey.
CAVAN (v Louth): J Reilly; J Jordan, M Brennan, C Collins; A Forde, G Duffy, M Brides; S Maguire, L Mulvey; F O'Reilly, E King, P Brady; R Flanagan, J O'Reilly, J Kiernan.
TYRONE (v Dublin): P McConnell; R McMenamin, C Gormley, M McGeem; D Harte, C Gourley, D Carlin; B Meenan, C Holmes; R Mulgrew, G Cavlan, S Cavanagh; R Mellon, S O'Neill, O Mulligan.
KERRY (v Mayo): K Cremin; P Reidy, M McCarthy, M Ó Sé; A O'Mahony, E Fitzmaurice, M Lyons; D Ó Sé, T Ó Sé; K Donaghy, E Brosnan, P Kelly; Darren O'Sullivan, Declan O'Sullivan (capt), MF Russell.
