Allianz Football League: Derry face Dubs as Fermanagh meet Armagh in BBC streamed game

Derry beat Dublin at Celtic Park last March but the Dubs then put four goals past the Oak Leafers in the Division Two Final a month later

Division One leaders Derry face Dublin in the game of the weekend in the Allianz Football League.

Mickey Harte's first campaign as Derry boss has seen the Oak Leafers take a four-point lead at the top after winning their four opening rounds.

But Saturday's Celtic Park clash looks to be Derry's biggest test yet after Dublin's dismissal of Kerry a week ago.

Also on Saturday, Division Two leaders Armagh travel to face Fermanagh in this weekend's live BBC streamed game.

There will be a pitch inspection at Brewster Park on Saturday morning following heavy snow in Enniskillen and a decision on whether the Division Two match goes ahead will be made by 12:00 GMT.

Derry and Dublin met in Division Two at Celtic Park last year when the Oak Leafers fought back from 0-7 to 0-2 down at half-time to edge a 1-11 to 0-13 victory as Brendan Rogers hit the winning point.

With both sides already having secured Division One football, Dublin avenged that defeat a month later by winning the Division Two Final 4-6 to 0-11 at Croke Park as Derry's defence endured a few high-ball difficulties.

• All-Ireland Football League fixtures and tables

Much has happened since then with Derry retaining the Ulster title despite Rory Gallagher's well-publicised departure and then going on to narrowly lose their All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry.

Dublin, however, edged out the Kingdom in the All-Ireland Final a couple of weeks later and their Con O'Callaghan-inspired repeat victory over David Clifford and company a week ago gloriously teed up Saturday evening's contest in Derry city.

O'Callaghan hit all three goals - including a penalty - in Dublin's 3-18 to 1-14 win a Croke Park which has been hailed as the most impressive inter-county display of 2024 to date.

But Derry have done everything that has been asked of them so far during the league.

They held their nerve to beat a Clifford-less Kingdom in Tralee despite a second-half Kerry comeback and two comfortable home wins over Tyrone and Monaghan were followed by last weekend's 3-10 to 1-11 triumph in Galway.

All-Star Conor McCluskey is being tipped to undertake his regular role in shadowing O'Callaghan while Harte is hoping that Conor Doherty will be passed fit to remain in the defence after going off because of a knock in Salthill.

Cormac Murphy, impressive in Derry's opening games, could return following a finger injury but goalkeeper Odhran Lynch and All-Star centre half-back Gareth McKinless look likely to miss out again because of their hamstring ailments.

Division Two leaders Armagh face Fermanagh in Saturday's game which will be live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website

After the tense home draw with Donegal which kept them on top on Division Two by the smallest possible points difference margin, Armagh will want to maintain their anticipated drive towards promotion by earning a win at Brewster Park which would increase Fermanagh's relegation concerns.

After drawing the opener in Navan and beating Kildare in round two, Fermanagh's home defeat Donegal was no great surprise - even though their second-half collapse was disappointing - but last weekend's last-gasp defeat by Cork in Ederney was a damaging result, with Kieran Donnelly's side now only a point ahead of Louth and the Rebel County, with pointless Lilywhites already looking doomed.

While Armagh and Donegal are the strong promotion favourites, Cavan are only a point off the pace after winning there out of their four games and victory over neighbours Meath at Breffni Park will keep Raymond Galligan's side in strong contention for a Division One spot ahead of their round-six meeting with Kieran McGeeney's side at the Athletic Grounds.

Sunday's two Division One game see Tyrone facing Kerry in Tralee and Monaghan involved in a home game against also relegation-threatened Galway which has a must-win look about for both teams.

Tyrone delivered a big second half to see off Mayo in Omagh last weekend and now face a Kerry side that outclassed them in last summer's All-Ireland quarter-final.

However, the Red Hands have won the last league meeting between the sides which included the 1-15 to 2-11 2022 final-round triumph at Fitzgerald Stadium which preserved their Division One status.

Both teams go into the game on four points points so the winner will be close to safety with the loser still looking over their shoulder.

Donegal face Louth at Ballyshannon

After their impressive opening Croke Park win over Dublin, Monaghan have since been well-beaten by Kerry, Derry and Roscommon and another reverse against Galway will have Vinny Corey's side in severe danger in dropping into Division Two for the first time since 2014.

Donegal will be expected to stay on course for an immediate return to Division One by beating Louth at Ballyshannon on Sunday while Down will aim to stay to maintain top spot in Division Three when they host Sligo at Pairc Esler.

Despite falling to fifth place in Division Three by losing their last two games, Antrim still have a four-point buffer to Offaly, Wicklow and Limerick who are all on zero points.

However, a home defeat by a Westmeath side, who like Down have won their opening four games, could potentially herald a slide into the relegation picture and Andy McEntee will be calling on his side to clinch the win that could virtually ensure safety ahead of the two closing rounds.