Brothers Joe and Aonghus Clarke will form the midfield partnership for a new-look Westmeath team in Saturday's Leinster SHC preliminary round clash with Antrim in Mullingar.

The latter is one of six players who have been given their championship debuts by manager Brian Hanley. The other newcomers are goalkeeper Shane McGovern, corner back Paul Fennell, centre forward Francis Boyle, who has seen plenty of championship action for the Lake County footballers in the past, left half forward Robbie Greville and corner forward Niall O'Brien.

Both Greville and O'Brien are still minors, while Fennell and Clarke were minors last year. Surprisingly, vice-captain Philip Gilsenan hasn't made the starting XV, but is named among the substitutes.

Westmeath (SH v Antrim): S McGovern; C Jordan, A Price, P Fennell; P Dowdall (captain), A McGrath, P Greville; A Clarke, J Clarke; B Murtagh, F Boyle, R Greville; N O'Brien, J Shaw, E Price. Tweet

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