Three changes for leaders Mayo

NFL Division 1A leaders Mayo have made three changes to their side for tomorrow's final round test against Tyrone - but there is no place for last year's captain Ciaran McDonald (Castlebar, throw-in 3.30pm).

Enigmatic forward McDonald has not played for the westerners since last August, but has returned to training for the past three weeks and may now make his return off the bench.

Manager Mickey Moran's changes see Trevor Howley preferred to Pat Kelly in defence, Ronan McGarrity returns at midfield having missed the defeat to Dublin due to basketball commitments and 1993 All-Star Kevin O'Neill gets a run-out at right corner forward.

Both Howley and Barry Moran, who deputised for McGarrity against the Dubs, will play for Mayo's Under-21s in today's Cadbury's Connacht U-21 final against Galway.

Ballyhaunis clubman Keith Higgins, who has been named by Moran at right wing back, faces a busy weekend as he captains the Mayo Under-21s side this afternoon in Castlebar.

Derry man Moran rates the Tyrone clash as his side's "toughest test yet."

Moran said: “Tyrone are the All-Ireland champions, they have a system that’s been worked on for a number of years, and it’ll be interesting to see how our lads react to the pressure. We need a result, they need a result, and we are going to Castlebar to win.”

MAYO (NFL v Tyrone) - J Healy; T Howley, D Heaney, L O’Malley; K Higgins, J Nallen, P Gardiner; J Gill, R McGarrity; A Dillon, G Brady, A Moran; K O’Neill, BJ Padden, A O’Malley.