Peter Canavan reckons that Galway have the better crop of players if fully fit, but expects Jim McGuinness to have worked out a plan for them in Sunday afternoon's semi-final.
The Ulster and Connacht champions meet in an All-Ireland semi-final for the first time since 1983, when Val Daly's late goal broke Donegal hearts, denying them what would have been a first ever All-Ireland final appearance.
McGuinness, in his first season back in charge, has overseen a stunning revival of Donegal following their annus horribilis in 2023, when it was assumed they could be heading for a half-decade in the wilderness.
The mastermind of the 2012 All-Ireland success presided over a fourth Ulster title crown in his five attempts at managing in the competition and Canavan says the current crop have developed in a way that has surprised many observers.
"They'll only be a better team (than 2012) if they win it, simple as that," Canavan said on the RTÉ GAA podcast. "They are a different team. I don't think there's the same real strong characters in this team than there was in the previous team.
"But I think they're a better balanced team. They're possibly a better footballing team, in that there's a lot of natural footballers all over the pitch.
"There's a big contrast in the teams, in terms of physicality. I see Galway having the edge in terms of bigger, more physical players and they can play a very defensive style of football as well.
"Whereas Donegal, it's a running game. It's about moving the game really fast and attacking the D at serious pace.
"And there's leaders starting to emerge, that people maybe weren't expecting. Ciaran Moore has come out of nowhere and has been really impressive for them. Oisín Gallen is emerging as a real leader, none more so than in the Ulster final when he put on a masterclass. And Ryan McHugh is playing the football of his life."
Galway threw the championship wide open when they sunk Dublin under a fortnight ago, potentially placing a full-stop at the end of the latter's era of dominance in the process.
Shane Walsh, delivering one of his signatures, hobbled off the field shortly after the finish, very much in keeping with the spirit of their injury-hit season.
Canavan says that, on paper, Galway tick all the boxes but much will depend on the fitness of their leading players.
"Immediately after the quarter-finals, my view was that this was advantage Donegal. Just because of the injuries.
"It appeared that Shane Walsh had hurt his hamstring and that would take a bit of time to recover from.
"This Galway team, fully-fit, is a match for anybody. They've star quality throughout, tough man-markers at the back, natural wing-backs.
"Midfielders who can play ball - (John) Maher went toe-to-toe with Fenton and he's the more unheralded of the two, Paul Conroy a natural footballer that can create and score.
"And (Cillian) McDaid in the second half against Dublin when the chips were down, he was the man that stood up.
"They tick so many boxes at all levels but are they fully fit?
"They're coming in on a high after beating Dublin. There's a lot of euphoria now, they will not lack for confidence and their supporters will expect them to go the whole way this year.
"But it's Donegal. And it's 'Jimmy's Winning Matches'. He will have a plan.
"You just feel that if they can click they have the players. They will relish the prospect of taking on this Galway team in Croke Park. It's very well set up and if there's a game that's going to go to extra-time, I wouldn't be surprised if it's this one."
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Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship semi-finals, Armagh v Kerry (5.30pm on Saturday on RTÉ2) and Donegal v Galway (4pm on Sunday on RTÉ2). Both games available on RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
