Down could welcome back goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh and defensive pair Dan McCartan and Damien Rafferty for this weekend's big clash with Dublin at Croke Park.

All Star netminder McVeigh has missed the recent games against Cork and Monaghan with a hamstring injury.

His place has gone to Colin Murdoch and Declan Alder in those games, but the An Riocht clubman has declared himself fit for Saturday night's high-profile 'Spring Series' encounter with the Dubs.

McCartan, meanwhile, returned to action as a substitute against Monaghan two weeks ago and is now in contention for his first start of the year, while the experienced Rafferty has not pulled on a Down jersey since last year's All-Ireland final against Cork. Tweet

Most Read Stories