Harte's men ready to go to war against Down

Mickey Harte's All-Ireland champions Tyrone hope to retain their title by going through the back door and Down are the first obstacle they must overcome at Newry today.

The Red Hands went down to Donegal in the Ulster championship semi-final and take on a Down side who lost out to Cavan in the provincial competition.

Tyrone are expected to progress from the all-Ulster clash, even without injured AllStar forward Peter Canavan.

Manager Micky Harte has dropped goalkeeper John Devine in favour of his understudy Pascal McConnell for today's clash.

Devine figured in all but one of Tyrone's All-Ireland championship-winning games last season.

Harte has also made several positional changes from the side that lost to Donegal.

Kevin Hughes moves from from full-forward to midfield and Ger Cavlan takes over at left half-forward, pushing Stephen O'Neill up to the left corner.

Owen Mulligan takes Hughes's place at full-forward.

Down have also rung the changes from the team that began against Cavan.

Michael Higgins replaces Brendan Grent at right corner-back, while at the other end, Liam Doyle takes over from Owen McCartan at right half-forward.

Ronan Murtagh moves to left half-forward in place of the injured Ronan Sextion.

Tyrone (v Down): P McConnell; R McMenamin, G Gormley, C Gourley; J McMahon, S Sweeney, P Jordan; K Hughes, S Cavanagh; B Dooher, B McGuigan, G Cavlan; M Harte, O Mulligan, S O’Neill.

Down (v Tyrone): M McVerry; M Higgins, A Molloy, A Scullion; J Clarke, M Cole, S Farrell; D Gordon, G McCartan; L Doyle, S Ward, R Murtagh; D Hughes, A O'Prey, B Coulter.