"Our ambition is to beat Down. Like Down, and every other Ulster county, we want to try and win an Ulster championship. That is the realistic aim."

Derry defender Chrissy McKaigue outlines his team's ambition for the months ahead but they won't have anything easy against a Down side which has shown improvement under new manager Jim McCorry.

The Mourne County booked a return to the top flight during a league campaign which saw them win five of their seven games.

They will travel to Celtic Park tomorrow in a confident frame of mind.

"Jim has given boys chances when people were probably thinking that those players weren't out there in the county," long-serving Down star Kevin McKernan said during the week.

"But when you play club football in Down and you play against them and with them, you know there are good footballers in the county. It's just a matter of getting them all to commit and Jim has done that this year."

Play-maker Mark Poland is available for the visitors after sustaining an eye injury during the warm-up for the Division 2 decider defeat to Roscommon.

The Oak Leafers, meanwhile, enter the championship on the back of relegation to Division 2.

They will be out to make amends for last year's disastrous championship campaign when they exited the qualifiers at the hands of Longford after running Donegal close in the championship.

"The reality is that we played Donegal and there wasn't much in it," McKaigue pointed.

"We made a few mistakes, and Donegal went on to go within a kick of a ball of winning the All-Ireland. Talk about fine margins."

Home advantage could swing the tie in Brian McIver's team's favour and they get the vote to book a semi-final ticket against the winners of Donegal and Armagh.

Verdict - Derry.

Derry team: Thomas Mallon; Oisín Duffy, Brendan Rogers, Dermot McBride; Kevin Johnston, Chrissy McKaigue, Ciarán McFaul; Niall Holly, Fergal Doherty; Sean Leo McGoldrick, Mark Lynch, Enda Lynn; Benny Heron, Eoin Bradley, Daniel Heavron.

Down team: tbc

Match details: Sunday, Celtic Park, 2pm.

Referee: Eddie Kinsella

Odds: Derry 8/11, Draw 15/2, Down 6/4.

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