Offaly and Longford will meet for the fifth time in just over a year at Tullamore this evening.

As things currently stand, it's three wins to one in favour of Longford but the Faithful County hold all the aces following their comfortable 4-16 to 1-12 victory over Jack Sheedy's charges in last month's Division 4 decider.

Unsurprisingly, Pat Flanagan has kept faith with the team that delivered on that occasion as they go in search of a first victory in the provincial championship since 2007.

The Paul McConway captained outfit also have the added benefit of home advantage.

"We have emphasised the fact the whole year that we have had a number of home games in preparation for this one," manager Flanagan outlined.

"That is one psychological factor. We played six home matches this year, we won five and drew one."

Flanagan's Longford counterpart Jack Sheedy has been forced into making one change to his line-up as centre-forward Paul McKeon  has been ruled out of the equation with a shoulder injury.

"I felt we were in a good position going into the league final but Offaly probably had a little more to fight for," former Dublin player Sheedy remarked mid-week. "Croke Park is done with now and the focus is on Saturday and putting in a good performance in the belief that we can get the better of Offaly in the match that really matters."

Verdict - Offaly.

Offaly team: Alan Mulhall; Brian Darby, Paul McConway, Daithí Brady; Niall Darby, Johnny Moloney, Joseph O'Connor; Graham Guilfoyle, Niall Smith; Eoin Carroll, Niall McNamee, Anton Sullivan; Bernard Allen, Nigel Dunne, William Mulhall.

Longford team: Paddy Collum; Dermot Brady, Barry O'Farrell, Peter Foy; Colm P Smyth, Diarmuid Masterson, Enda Williams; Barry Gilleran, Kevin Diffley; Ronan McEntire, Michael Quinn, Shane Doyle; Ross McNerney, Brian Kavanagh, Francis McGee.

Match details: Saturday, O'Connor Park, Tullamore, 7pm.

Referee: Padraig O'Sullivan.

Odds: Offaly 1/2, Draw 15/2, Longford 9/4.

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