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Down's Ceilum Doherty challenges Westmeath's Luke Loughlin
Down coach Marty Clarke says the county's fate in the Allianz Football League is in their own hands ahead of a must-win match against Clare.
Morne County are unbeaten in Division Three and level with Westmeath but know a draw would be enough to secure promotion at Newry.
Clare are one point behind the leaders and can secure promotion with a win.
“It’s a huge event for us and our goal is to get out of Division Three,” Clarke told ` Sport NI.
Down had an impressive season with the managerial ticket of Conor Laverty, Clarke and former Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh.
They narrowly missed out on promotion in 2023 but bounced back with five wins in the first five games of the new Division Three season.
Both Down and Westmeath could have secured promotion to Division Two with a win in their penultimate game, but the league leaders lost 0-13 to 1-10 at Mullingar.
That leaves a three-way battle for promotion on the final day on Sunday, with Down and Westmeath, who face Sligo, in pole position to reach Division Two ahead of Clare in third place.
“We have it in our own hands to get to our seventh game and have a chance at home against Clare,” said Clarke, who added that his side were not yet looking ahead to the Ulster Championship, which comes after the end of the League in full swing ahead schedule.
“Last year when we got to this round our aim was to get out of Division Three and in the sixth round Fermanagh had beaten Westmeath which meant it wasn't possible for us to get promoted.
“The most important thing is promotion. Promotion to Division Two is something we know we need for the group to develop and move forward.”
“It is very difficult to get out of a division but that is the priority. In the background, this prize is there for teams who can earn promotion to potentially get into the Sam Maguire and that would be another big step for the group.”
“Clare has an excellent team”
Clarke added that he hoped the home advantage would come into play at Pairc Esler, but stressed that his side would not underestimate the Clare side who have flown under the radar so far.
“Home field advantage is something we really value and hope to be able to take advantage of,” the 2010 All-Star said.
“Clare has a number of players who have played in Division Two for a lot longer than our boys, they have been there for several years.”
“They played in the All-Ireland quarter-final. People seem to forget that in this part of the world but as a management team and as a squad we are under no illusions that Clare are an outstanding side.”
“They were very unlucky not to beat Westmeath so we did our homework as best we could.”
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Conor Laverty (right) brought former Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh (left) into his coaching team
Clarke added that there was a “pretty healthy list” in terms of injury concerns, but Caolan Mooney was a doubt after suffering a knock against Westmeath.
Down brought Meenagh, who led Derry to the All-Ireland semi-finals as interim manager last year, into the coaching staff and Clarke added that he had a “great relationship” with manager Laverty.
“The energy, passion and knowledge that Ciaran brings has really helped him a lot,” he said.
“Tactically, but also the emotional side and the energy that you have to bring into every training session to be a winner.”
“We keep our fingers crossed that the preparation can benefit us.”
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