Jason Ryan's observation on Conor McManus' ability to win frees is sure to add spice to this evening's qualifier clash between Kildare and Monaghan in Croke Park.

The Lilywhites manager told Newstalk during the week: "Conor McManus is just outstanding, both as a free-taker and from play, and when it comes to winning frees, he is probably the number one free-winner in the country.

"(Referee) David Coldrick will be keeping a very close eye on all the tackles that we don't have a situation whereby there is dispute over fouls and what not."

Ryan's charges will certainly have to keep a close eye on the Farney captain and his full-forward line colleague Kieran Hughes as both have been passed fit to play after illness and knee injury respectively.

Malachy O'Rourke and his selectors have chosen to go with the same 15 that lost out to Donegal in the Ulster SFC final.

Midfielder Darren Hughes is hoping to make up for that disappointment and he expects the two-week break to be a help in that regard: "Physically, you can't really be ready for a game in six days. We have had time now, met and talked about, and assessed, what went wrong against Donegal. But we kind of knew ourselves where it went wrong. It was a disappointing performance all round."

Ryan, meanwhile, has made three changes to his team with Mick Foley, Tomas O'Connor and Eoghan O'Flaherty getting the nod ahead of Emmet Bolton, Gary White and Padraig Fogarty.

The Leinster outfit scraped over Clare in the last round but, no disrespect to the Banner County, Monaghan represent a major step up in class.

Verdict - Monaghan.

Monaghan team: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Drew Wylie, Colin Walshe; Dessie Mone, Vinny Corey, Fintan Kelly; Dick Clerkin, Darren Hughes; Paudie McKenna, Stephen Gollogly, Paul Finlay; Dermot Malone, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus.

Kildare team: Mark Donnellan; Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Michael Foley, Mick O'Grady; Ollie Lyons, Fergal Conway, Keith Cribbin; Tommy Moolick, Padraig O'Neill; Cathal McNally, Niall Kelly, Eamonn Callaghan; Alan Smith, Tomás O'Connor, Eoghan O'Flaherty.

Match details: Saturday, Croke Park, 7pm, extra-time playable.

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).

Odds: Monaghan 1/2, Draw 15/2, Kildare 9/4. Tweet

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