Ballybofey is the venue as the home side aim to clear another hurdle in their defence of the Ulster crown.
Jim McGuinness’ side did not have to do much to see off Cavan in the opening round, and Derry will be expected to provide a more testing examination.
Manager John Brennan is upbeat about his side’s chances and is not too deterred by their league form which nearly saw them drop to Division 3.
The Oakleafers also have the added incentive of trying to avenging last year’s Ulster final defeat to Donegal. It was a match that the later got a firm stranglehold on, with Derry failing to making any inroads.
Much focus will now be on the reigning provincial kingpins to see what style of play they will adapt in the aftermath of many purists deriding their approach to the game in 2011.
In saying that, they were only a kick of a ball away from getting to an All-Ireland final. Indeed, if they had shown a bit more belief against Dublin in the semi-final, a place in the September showdown was there for them.
Donegal have prepared well for this campaign and held early morning training sessions in deepest winter. Their talisman Michael Murphy and Rory Kavanagh are doubt for Saturday’s clash, however.
Murphy has not played since the Allianz League defeat to Dublin on 24 March and has since undergone procedure on a lateral knee ligament injury.
Kavanagh is receiving intensive treatment on an ankle injury picked up in a club game just over two weeks ago.
Speaking to the Democrat/People's Press, the Donegal manager said: "Michael's rehab has not progressed as well as we would have liked and he is a good bit behind in his preparation and fitness and it is certainly not the ideal situation.
"But we are going to wait and see how he goes this week.
"Rory has not trained for the past two weeks and it is also matter of waiting and seeing with him too. The consultant in Dublin told him he was in with a chance of playing if he stuck strictly to the rehab."
Apart from the above duo, McGuinness has a fully-fit squad to pick from.
Derry will be glad that the Bradley brothers are available for selection, though Cailean Boyle and Dermot McBride are injured and will not feature.
Last weekend, Sligo surprised Galway in Salthill. Very few had given the Yeats county any chance of victory. Derry will also have the underdog tag at MacCumhail Park and the fact it’s their first game of the campaign has pundits wondering whether they capable of derailing Donegal at this stage.
The positive vibes within the camp would indicate that they are going to give it a real lash. The toughness that McGuinness’ side has built up over the last year, however, should stand to them if things get tight on the scoreboard.
Armagh and Tyrone served up entertaining fare last weekend and there is no reason to suggest that another set of neighboring counties won’t do the same.
