By Michael McMullan

IT’S a tale of two extremes when Donegal take on Kildare on Saturday evening in Carlow’s Netwatch Dr Cullen Park.

A win for Donegal would seal promotion whereas nothing short of a win for Kildare will be enough to give them a chance of beating the drop to Division Three.

Donegal and Armagh, both unbeaten with healthy score differences, are odds on to return to the top flight and contest the league final later this month.

The reward for Jim McGuinness and his side would be a total focus on their championship opener against three-in-a-row chasing Derry in Celtic Park next month.

Performances are important to a degree but all promotion races are the same – prepare, play, get two points, recover and repeat until the deal is done.

From a squad point of view, Donegal will be hoping to get minutes into Jason McGee who could return this weekend. It will be the same for Caolan McColgan and Eoghan Bán Gallagher when they make their return. Brendan McCole’s injury isn’t as bad as first feared.

Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle and Ciaran Moore have been in fine form this season.

In attack, Oisín Gallen and Patrick McBrearty have stuck up a potent partnership with Dáire Ó Baoill and Ciaran Thompson key men in the middle third.

The return of Michael Langan has been a help and the management will be hoping to get his as much football as possible.

Donegal host Meath in the final game of the campaign but it’s hard to see them not completing their promotion mission ahead of schedule.