All-Star nominee David Kelly (ankle) and wing back Jonathan Davey (cruciate knee ligament) are also notable absentees from a Sligo side that includes two Championship newcomers.

David Rooney from St. John's will make his debut in the number 7 jersey, while Shamrock Gaels' Francis Quinn is poised for his first Championship start at wing forward.

Sligo finished as runners-up to Roscommon in last year's Connacht Championship and then bowed out of the All-Ireland qualifiers in the fourth round, losing to eventual finalists Down (3-20 to 0-10).

2011 has been a poor year so far for the Yeatsmen, who were relegated to Division 3 of the Allianz League, and manager Kevin Walsh knows they cannot afford to take an inexperienced Leitrim side for granted.

"I've heard they (Leitrim) have been doing well in challenge matches recently, beating Clare well, drawing with Cavan and beating Carlow, which sounds as if they are motoring well," he said.

"So we're under no illusions as to what's facing us."

2002 All-Star and Sligo's long-term talisman Eamonn O'Hara will spearhead the attack once again. Incredibly, this will be O'Hara's 18th Senior Championship campaign - he made his debut as a teenager against Mayo in 1994.

The Tourlestrane clubman has appearaned in four Connacht finals during his career, with his one win coming in the 2007 decider against Galway.

SLIGO (SFC v Leitrim): Philip Greene; Charlie Harrison (capt), Ross Donovan, Neil Ewing; Paul McGovern, Brian Curran, David Rooney; Stephen Gilmartin, Tony Taylor; Alan Costello, Eamonn O'Hara, Francis Quinn; Stephen Coen, Kenneth Sweeney, Adrian Marren.