Tyrone have tunnel vision for title

Laois v Tyrone: If there are two extreme states of physical and mental condition in sport then they will probably come to Croke Park tomorrow. Tyrone are all geared up and should hit the ground running. Laois are all shaken up

So if this fourth-round qualifier comes down to those two conditions then Tyrone are the only team that can win. Having got the setback against Donegal out of their system they are now refocused on only one prize, the All-Ireland title.

They'll play a Laois team that shows significant changes (four in personnel) from that which took the field against Westmeath in the Leinster final replay defeat. Significantly, Colm Byrne, Michael Lawlor and Martin Delaney, who absconded from the panel last week, only to return midweek, are not selected.

Last year's minor full back Cathal Ryan gets a starting role in place of the injured Joe Higgins, despite Byrne's availability. In the half-back line - and against medical advice - Darren Rooney and Tom Kelly have declared themselves fit to start. Kevin Fitzpatrick has been moved to centre forward, in place of Lawlor, with Pádraig McMahon coming in at wing back. Paul Lawlor and Shane Cooke come into the full-forward line as Donie Brennan is on minor duty while Colm Parkinson starts at wing forward. Gary Kavanagh misses out.

Tyrone will also play with the fresh impetus provided by their former captain Peter Canavan. His return 55 minutes into the last qualifier against Galway confirmed what most people assumed - he is still one of the best forwards in the country and he'll have his say in this year's championship. The 10-month lay- off has done him no harm.

Perhaps more than any game, that Galway victory displayed where Tyrone might ultimately be going this season. It wasn't the perfect win by any means and they kicked an astonishing sequence of wides, but in the end they were far superior. Owen Mulligan, Brian Dooher and Seán Cavanagh have rarely looked fitter and hungrier and the team thrives once they get flowing.

Just how well Laois have recovered from last Saturday's replay remains to be seen. Mick O'Dywer admitted he had a major battle on his hands trying to come up with the game plan and energy to upset Tyrone. But they're not without hope. Had Fitzpatrick converted that late goal chance against Westmeath their fortunes would almost certainly have been different. Fitzpatrick will be up for this, and Kelly, Parkinson and Pádraic Clancy aren't the sort of players to sit around and curse their luck.

And it's worth recalling, too, Laois did keep Westmeath scoreless for almost 45 minutes - the first 23 minutes and the last 21. Still it's difficult to see how they'll live with Tyrone over the 70 minutes. If and when Canavan is called in the memories of last season will be as fresh as they need to be, and the All-Ireland champions will prevail.