Laois battle discord, injury

Laois will show exactly what they are made of today when they face All-Ireland champions Tyrone in their third consecutive weekend of championship action.

Manager Mick O'Dwyer has had plenty on his plate since their Leinster final replay defeat to Westmeath last week.

Full-back Colm Byrne and Michael Lawlor opted out of the panel earlier in the week, rumoured to have been unhappy at their substitutions over the course of the last two games.

O'Dwyer, in his 100th championship game as a manager, also has injury worries.

Captain Chris Conway is out, having been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery last Friday week. All Star defender Joe Higgins has succumbed to injury, as has Darren Rooney. Attacker Beano McDonald is also struggling with a groin injury.

Tyrone are more fortunate. It is two weeks since they trounced Galway and they are coming right on the injury front with the return of Mark Harte and the naming of talisman Peter Canavan on the bench.

However, they are still without Enda McGinley and Collie Holmes.

The All-Ireland champions are desperate for a quarter-final place in their bid to retain Sam Maguire.

Having been caught napping against Donegal in the Ulster championship, the Red Hands will be difficult to catch again, especially by a dejected Laois side with discord in the camp.