Turlough O'Brien steered Carlow to a Leinster Championship win over Louth last year.
Allianz Football League Division Three
Saturday March 2
Carlow v Louth, Netwatch Cullen Park, 7pm
Having fought so hard to claim Division Three status Carlow want to remain at this level.
Division Three is always tight and tense with only three points separating Louth in first place and Carlow in seventh.
A home victory for Turlough O'Brien's team would be extremely valuable, but Louth are motoring well since losing on the opening weekend.
Triumps over Laois, Offaly, and Sligo ensure Wayne Kierans' charges aren't short on confidence.
Carlow did overcome Louth in the 2018 Leinster Championship and a similarly dynamic display will be required.
Down v Offaly, Pairc Esler, 7pm
Gradually Paddy Tally's the depth of Paddy Tally's panel is increasing and Down are winning matches.
On the opening weekend Down suffered a disappointing defeat to Laois, but they have stitched a decent run together with Donal O'Hare bagging a hat-trick in the comfortable success over Longford.
Sligo, Westmeath, and Longford have all been beaten by Down, who know another positive result would steer them closer to a return to Division Two.
It has been an eventful spring so far for Offaly, who increased their survival chances with a triumph over Carlow.
John O'Loughlin, Laois, and Diarmuid Masterson, Longford, collide during the 2017 Leinster Senior Football Championship.
Laois v Longford, O'Moore Park, 7pm
Considering Longford were without their Mullinalaghta St Columba's contingent initially Padraic Davis' charges performed smartly to secure five points from three games.
The defeat to Down, though, was a reminder of how tough it can be in Division Three so this match with Laois is now loaded with importance.
John Sugrue's team suffered a 0-13 to 0-10 reversal against Westmeath last Sunday.
Evan O'Carroll and Paul Cahillane contributed seven of Laois' scores in that contest and remain key attacking figures.
LAOIS: Graham Brody; Stephen Attride, Mark Timmons, Gareth Dillon; Martin Scully, Robbie Piggot, Colm Begley; John O'Loughlin, Kieran Lillis; Sean Byrne, Benny Carroll, Conor Boyle; Ross Munnelly, Evan O'Carroll, Donie Kingston.
Sunday March 3
Sligo v Westmeath, Collooney, 2pm
Sligo are in significant bother following four straight defeats so only a victory will suffice for them on home turf.
Westmeath travel to the north west buoyed up by an industrious win over Laois which was prompted by Ger Egan's 0-9 haul.
John Heslin has also returned for Jack Cooney's outfit, who know another triumph would put them in with a serious promotion shout.
That is the objective for Westmeath, but Sligo just want to survive now so this is a vital 70 minutes for the Yeatsmen.
WESTMEATH: Eoin Carberry; Killian Daly, Ronan Wallace, Boidu Sayeh; David Lynch, Frank Boyle, James Dolan; Sam Duncan, Denis Corroon; Joe Halligan, John Heslin, Jamie Gonoud; Ronan O'Toole, Kieran Martin, Ger Egan.
