Cork captain Paul Kerrigan says "patience all over the field" will be key if they are to topple Donegal at Croke Park on Saturday.

The Leesiders meet this year's beaten Ulster finalists in Round 4B of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers and looking back at their meeting with the would-be All-Ireland champions from four years ago, Kerrigan says that he and his team mates will have to bide their time against Rory Gallagher's charges.

"2012 was my first experience of playing them in the championship. As a player, nothing can prepare you for their system until you play it. They have their 'keeper, a couple of man-makers, a corner-forward and everyone else goes where they want. It is just one of those games where anything can happen," Kerrigan told the Irish Examiner.

"We went with seven forwards against them that day in 2012. We really went for it. The biggest thing I remember from that game is that we stuck to the plan in the first half, but we went away from it in the second half, myself included. Our shot selection and a lack of patience came against us. They thrived on the couple of opportunities we missed.

"They feed off momentum. If I get turned over, there will be a big cheer for them. They'll go up the field in twos and threes, then, and get a score. We just need to be patient. We just need to back ourselves.

"They could have a lot of possession as they did against Tyrone and they could be passing out around midfield, there is no good keeping them out there for 40 seconds and then concede a soft free in and around the goal. It defeats the purpose. Going forward, if you carry the ball into a tackle alone or drop a ball short under pressure, that's meat and drink to them. Patience all over the field is what we need."

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