Ironically, Roscommon's last win the qualifiers was against Kildare back in 2003. Since then, the Rossies have lost qualifier matches to Dublin, Louth and Meath.

Meanwhile, Kildare have not been able to include 1998 All-Star Dermot Earley in their starting line-up for Saturday's trip west.

Earley, who has been sidelined since February due to a broken bone in his foot, was back in light training two weeks ago but the Roscommon game has come too soon.

The big Sarsfields midfielder's father, Dermot Earley snr is a Roscommon footballing legend who played at minor, Under-21, junior and senior level for his native county and is often regarded as arguably the best footballer never to have won an All-Ireland.

Kildare boss John Crofton, who watched his side slump to a six-point defeat to Meath in the Leinster championship, will be without the services of midfield duo Earley and Killian Brennan, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in April's league semi-final defeat to Donegal.

Mick Foley, Ross Glavin and Tadhg Fennin have also picked up injuries and are out of the Lilywhites' line-up for Saturday.

Crofton has made two changes to the side that lost to Meath with Ronan Sweeney, who is back after a groin operation, and Jason Phillips replacing Glavin and Fennin in attack.

There is also a positional switch with David Lyons moving from full-back to midfield in a swap with Kevin O'Neill.

ROSCOMMON (SFC v Kildare) - G Claffey; S McDermott, A McDermott, P O'Connor; S Daly, D Casey, R Dooner; S O'Neill, M Finneran; J Tiernan, G Cox, C Gregg; D Connellan, K Mannion, G Heneghan.

KILDARE - E Murphy; E Callaghan, K O'Neill, A McLoughlin; A Rainbow, M Hogarty, E Bolton; R Sweeney, D Lyons; J Kavanagh, J Doyle, K Donnelly; M Conway, J Phillips, P O'Neill.