Of all the fourth-round qualifiers today's game is most resistant to simple analysis. Mayo won Division One of the Allianz Football League, while on the same day Westmeath won . Mayo have a more reassuring look; they have been close to the mountain top in recent years even if the summit was just beyond them. Westmeath have been promising for a while but there is a sense that the qualifier series has liberated them.

The team has been expertly put together by Luke Dempsey, whose managerial feats with the county have been outstanding. His minor All-Ireland winners of 1995 provided only two players to his under-21 champions four years later and of this evening's line-up, only the excellent left corner back Fergal Murray started with the minors of six years ago. The current team has a number of strengths, principally the quality of the forwards and the pace of the whole team. Of the remaining teams in the championship, only Cavan are faster.

Luck, that most vital ingredient, is looking a bit scarce this week. Derek Heavin's illness has robbed Westmeath of an important defender.

Against Louth he moved into the troubled centre back position and snaffled a heap of loose ball. Des Dolan's injury could be a mixed blessing. His substantial talent has been a bit subdued this year although he's still a dangerous forward and bagged three points against Louth. But Louth manager Paddy Clarke believes that Joe Fallon's left boot gives the full-forward line greater balance.

Mayo are still glum over blowing the Connacht final. It's not a great state of mind to bring into a match against such demonstrably upbeat opposition. Some relief was provided with Ray Connelly being exonerated by the GAC and he will be needed to keep tabs on Ger Heavin, currently having the season he's been waiting for all his career.

Centrefield is one area where Mayo can get an edge. SΘamus O'Hanlon inspired Louth to superiority in the sector and Mayo have Colm McManamon, fit-again David Brady and Pat Fallon at their disposal. In defence Westmeath aren't as convincing as up front despite a feisty rearguard action two weeks ago - Louth had enough chances to win the match.

Mayo's young attack hasn't built on the promise of some of its league outings and there is now more reliance on familiar faces such as Kieran McDonald and Maurice Sheridan rather than the pace of Stephen Carolan and the injury-threatened Marty McNicholas.

There's a danger that Westmeath are a bit too ebullient at the moment. Bernard Flynn, summarising on the radio coverage of the Louth match as Dempsey blew kisses to the crowd, cautioned that so far, Westmeath's victim-list reads Wexford, Limerick and Louth. If concentration can be maintained, though, that list can look more impressive by tonight.