It's a case of east meets west tomorrow afternoon at HQ as Dublin and Mayo vie for a place in next month's All-Ireland SFC final.

Expectations are high for this one as the Leinster kingpins come up against their first major test in this summer's championship, having captured to their 55th provincial crown with minimal fuss before dispatching Pete McGrath's Fermanagh in the quarter-finals.

However, many agree that the Dubs face a different proposition to that of the side they conquered in 2013's Sam Maguire decider, with Mayo having looked as an impressive as any team in the country up on route to this semi-final. The decision to station Aidan O'Shea at full-forward has worked a treat for Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes, as the big Breaffy man has been a menace for them on the edge of the square, and his battle with Metropolitans full-back Rory O'Carroll is sure to be the showcase of a number of intriguing match ups on Sunday.

While the Connacht champions will seek to conduct large portions of their game plan through O'Shea, there can be no disputing that the capital men have more ways to hurt their opposition all over the field and it all starts from their number one.

Stephen Cluxton's varied kick-outs were a huge factor in deciding the All-Ireland final of two years ago and Mayo's management will certainly be looking to curtail the Parnells clubman's influence from the tee in order to repeat the feat which Donegal achieved at this stage last year.

Connelly said as much this week when asked how his side would be approaching the opposition in weekend's showpiece at Croke Park.

"Any team that plays Dublin has to work on his (Cluxton's) kick-outs. He's the master of it; most of their attacks stem from the quick kick-out," Connelly told The Irish Times. "He's the art of getting the kick-out off after three or four seconds. The ball is at the post and he has it back in play very quickly.

"We have to adapt to that, try and close down the space, close down the kick-outs but it's not easy because he's the expert at it."

Meanwhile, Dubs boss Jim Gavin has played down any notion that his team hold a psychological edge over Mayo from the last time these sides contested an All-Ireland final.

"Two years is a long, long time in football," said Gavin. "I think both teams will be a little different than two years ago. That All-Ireland final was certainly tough and Sunday will be no different."

Both camps are reporting a clean bill of health, with Dublin's only injury concern being a long-term one for Eoghan O'Gara, while Kevin Keane has been freed up from suspension for the Westerners after having his red card from the last outing against Donegal overturned on appeal.

It all makes for a fascinating contest, with some of the best footballers in Ireland set to be on display in front of a sell-out crowd at Croker, where Dublin's ruthless forwards always have the potential to ignite.

Awaiting the winners is a place alongside champions Kerry in the big one on September 20th.

Verdict - Dublin

Dublin team: Stephen Cluxton; Jonny Cooper, Rory O'Carroll, Philly McMahon; James McCarthy, Cian O'Sullivan, Jack McCaffrey; Brian Fenton, Denis Bastick; Paul Flynn, Ciaran Kilkenny, Diarmuid Connolly; Dean Rock, Paddy Andrews, Bernard Brogan.

Mayo team: David Clarke; Ger Cafferkey, Donal Vaughan, Keith Higgins; Lee Keegan, Chris Barrett, Colm Boyle; Seamus O'Shea, Tom Parsons; Diarmuid O'Connor, Aidan O'Shea, Kevin McLoughlin; Barry Moran, Cillian O'Connor, Jason Doherty.

Match details: Sunday; Croke Park; 3.30pm

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

Odds: Dublin 8/13; Draw 8/1; Mayo 7/4

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