Two teams that hadn't banked on being in this position must reveal how good they are - or else it's goodnight for another year.
Mayo's collapse against Galway in the Connacht championship resulted in the inevitable backlash in the first qualifier against Cavan, the six-point winning margin hardly reflecting Mayo's dominance.
John O'Mahony made seven changes for that game and they all worked reasonably well, especially Trevor Mortimer at wing back and newcomer Piece Hanley at centre forward. The scoring spread was impressive and more importantly so too was the team spirit.
Derry endured an unexpected collapse against Monaghan, but made up for that in a big way against Armagh last Sunday. They boast one of the best defenders in the country in Kevin McCloy. Paddy Bradley's slowly resembling the deadly forward of old. Manager Paddy Crozier kept all celebrations in check, and if they can maintain their coolness over 70 minutes - and milk home advantage - Derry can go into the hat for the third round draw looking increasingly formidable.
DERRY: B Gillis; M McGoldrick, K McCloy, SM Lockhart; G O'Kane, F McEldowney, L Hinphey; F Doherty, J Conway; B McGoldrick, M Lynch, P Murphy; C Devlin, P Bradley, C Gilligan.
MAYO: D Clarke; T Cunniffe, L O'Malley, T Howley; D Heaney, D Kilcoyne, T Mortimer; P Harte, D Brady; BJ Padden, P Hanley, A Dillon; C Mortimer, B Moran, A Moran.
All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers - Round Two
Derry v Mayo Celtic Park Today, 3.30pm
Kildare's poor display against Meath in the first round of the Leinster championship left a major question mark over the form - and there was little in their win over Roscommon to remove it. In fact Roscommon looked the better bet to progress for long periods, before Padraig O'Neill's goal set up Kildare's narrow win. John Doyle was instrumental with his 1-8. Yet some of his fellow forwards struggled to find the posts and Kildare's victory was far from convincing.
Louth endured a similarly tight battle with Limerick, and ended up even more unlikely winners. After being level on seven occasions, it was Limerick who surrendered a three-point lead in the second half to go out one-point losers. Louth were motivated by criticisms of their loss to Wexford and subsequent abandonment by several panel members, but it remains to be seen how much of that fire can be carried over for another day.
Kildare still have the greater potential, and are unquestionably the most stubborn of opposition on home turf - all of which points to a Kildare win.
KILDARE: E Murphy; E Callaghan, K O'Neill, A Mac Lochlainn; A Rainbow, M Hogarty, E Bolton; R Sweeney, D Lyons; J Kavanagh, J Doyle, K Donnelly; M Conway, J Phillips, P O'Neill.
LOUTH: S Reynolds; A Page, C Goss, M Fanning; J Neary, P McGinnity, J O'Brien; P Keenan, M Farrelly; B White, A Hoey, M Stanfield; C Judge, S Lennon, D Clarke.
Kildare v Louth Newbridge Today, 7pm
No one was massively surprised when Westmeath redrew Longford in the qualifiers after losing unexpectedly in Leinster, and even less so when they beat them. Despite the strong mental mindset of Longford manager Luke Dempsey, the advantage in such a situation invariably lies with the team seeking revenge - as last Saturday's nine-point win for Westmeath proved.
There was also much in that performance for Westmeath manager Tomás Ó Flaharta to take heart from: the midfield display of Martin Flanagan, the scoring of Dessie Dolan and Denis Glennon, and the goalkeeping of Gary Connaughton.
Westmeath will need all of that and more if they are to win their first championship meeting with Donegal.The fact Leitrim so nearly beat Donegal last Saturday perhaps says more about their own status rather than Donegal's troubles, because despite the enduring stereotype Leitrim are no small fry. Yet Donegal did have to work hard. If they have any fire left in them they'll need to show it here, and one expects they will.
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; F Boyle, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; D Healy, M Ennis, G Glennon; D Duffy, M Flanagan; F Wilson, J Smyth, D Glennon; A Mangan, G Dolan, D Dolan.
DONEGAL: P Durcan; N McGee, P Campbell, K Lacey; F McGlynn, B Monaghan, N McCreevey; N Gallagher, K Cassidy; M Murphy, M Hegarty, R Kavanagh; K McMenamin, R Bradley, B Devenney.
Westmeath v Donegal Cusack Park Today, 5pm
So no Graham Geraghty but still Meath resemble a team determined to have some say before the championship is done. They weren't given the most pressing of tests a week ago when Down scored a single point from play but Meath did enough to be comfortable winners, with Shane O'Rourke proving a timely addition up front alongside Stephen Bray and Brian Farrell. Meath still possess one of the better defences, with centre back Anthony Moyles also contributing three fine points last week.
The exact facts of the controversy surrounding Geraghty's omission are still a little vague. But it appears the team are determined to press on without him, and that spirits are rising accordingly.
Fermanagh are one of those teams no one would dare underestimate, but they were poor last Sunday against an inexplicably poor Wexford. It left them with the first competitive win of the year, but most of their shooting was dire. The likes of Mark Little and Eamonn Maguire are good to poach a goal or two, but improvement is required if they are to rock Meath. Meath to win then, and probably win easy.
MEATH: B Murphy; E Harrington, D Fay, N McKeigue; S Kenny, K Reilly, C King; M Ward, N Crawford; N McLoughlin, A Moyles, P Byrne; S Bray, S O'Rourke, B Farrell.
FERMANAGH: C Breen; S Goan, B Owens, N Bogue; P Sherry, S McDermott, T McElroy; L McBarron, M Murphy; M Little, T Brewster, E Maguire; C McElroy, C O'Reilly, R Keenan.
Meath v Fermanagh Páirc Tailteann Today, 7pm Ian O'Riordan
