Louth host Derry on a big weekend of league action

It's tight at the top of Division Two of the National Football League and on Saturday, Louth welcome Derry to Ardee in a pivotal clash for both [15:00 GMT, live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport NI app & website].

As it stands, the Oak Leafers lead the way on scoring difference, level on eight points with Cork and Meath, with Louth just two behind as we enter the penultimate round of fixtures.

Victory for Ciaran Meenagh's side will leave them in a strong position going into the final day with the head-to-head tie-breaker on Cork who host relegation-threatened Kildare on Saturday, but Meath hold that advantage over Derry due to their victory in round one.

Scoring difference [currently 28 points on Meath and 53 on Cork] may well prove decisive should all three remain locked and therefore, a win on Saturday will put them in a commanding position.

Louth enter the game knowing they must win to give themselves a realistic chance of joining the race for promotion.

"Derry have a really settled team, pretty much putting out their best 15 most weeks bar one or two," said former Tyrone All-Ireland winner Conor Meyler.

"They have consistency in their play which you can see in their defensive and attacking shape.

"We know from Tyrone's experience, how difficult it is to play Louth in Ardee, but I think Derry may just have too much unless Sam Mulroy puts on a masterclass."

At Croke Park on Saturday [17:00] Meath take on Tyrone, who are not out of the running at either end of the table.

Malachy O'Rourke's side still have an outside shot at promotion, but will need other results to fall their way should they prevail. Victory will ensure the threat of relegation is gone.

"I think the break has come at a good time for Tyrone who can get a few bodies back and after a tough block of games, there has been time to work on a few things," Meyler opined.

"They need to tidy up their forward play but Meath's defence can be got at.

"Meath have been involved in a lot of shootouts which lends itself to this being an open game that could come down to the last five minutes."

There is also a crunch relegation battle in the division on Sunday in Tullamore as Offaly host Cavan [14:00].

The Faithful's fate could be sealed on Saturday should Kildare defeat Cork, but a win for the Rebels or even a draw will then give Cavan the opportunity to move out of the bottom two with victory as they currently sit one point off the Lilywhites with head-to-head advantage.

In Division One, Donegal's place in the final will be sealed with a victory on Sunday away to Roscommon [13:30].

Jim McGuinness' side currently lead the way and with third-place Kerry hosting second-place Mayo on Saturday [16:00], the Ulster champions will know what they have to do prior to throw-in.

It is much tighter at the opposite end of the table where Monaghan must defeat Galway in Inniskeen on Sunday [15:45] to give themselves any chance of avoiding the drop.

The second relegation place is much less certain but a Galway win will ease their worries, while a key game in this battle takes place at Croke Park on Saturday evening [19:00] when Dublin host Armagh.

Kieran McGeeney's side currently sit second from bottom, two points adrift of the Dubs and Galway who meet in the final round, so they know they must avoid defeat to give themselves any chance on the final day.

"Armagh know they are in a bit of a dogfight and although they haven't got the results they'd want, they have been playing well," Meyler said.

"Dublin are in bad need of a result as well, so who ever loses this one will be in a tricky spot for relegation.

"I'd just about tip Armagh to get over the line."

In Division Three, Down have already sealed their promotion with five wins from five and Conor Laverty's side will seek to maintain their fine form when they travel to face Sligo on Sunday [14:00].

Should they do so, it will give Fermanagh an outside chance of beating the drop, but only if they have beaten Laois on Saturday [18:00] and Limerick draw away to Westmeath on Sunday to set up a possible three-way tie by the end of the campaign.

Those odds look long, just as Antrim's hopes of an unlikely promotion from Division Four.

After a nightmare start, Mark Doran's side have put together back-to-back wins and a victory away to Waterford on Sunday [13:00) may keep them alive, but only if a host of results fall their way.