Oisin Gallen of Donegal in action against Armagh's Aidan Forker and Oisin Conaty during last year's Ulster final
Jim McGuinness and his Donegal team will be aiming to maintain their perfect start to the season this Sunday as they host All-Ireland champions Armagh at MacCumhaill Park.
Live Updates: Donegal take on All-Ireland champions Armagh in Division 1 of the Allianz League
Meetings between these two Ulster rivals have become increasingly frequent, with this clash marking their fourth encounter in the past year.
Armagh have struggled to get the better of Donegal in recent times, failing to secure a win in their last three meetings. Their closest effort came with a league draw in Division 2 last season, while they suffered a narrow one-point defeat in the Division 2 final at Croke Park and an agonising penalty shootout loss in the Ulster final at Clones last May.
READ NEXT: Donegal's NFL triumphs and trials against previous All-Ireland champions
Despite those setbacks, Armagh ultimately claimed the biggest prize of all, lifting the Sam Maguire after defeating Galway in the All-Ireland final.
Both sides appear to have adjusted well to the new rules. Kieran McGeeney’s men are looking to build on their victory over fellow Ulster opponents Tyrone a fortnight ago, while Donegal have enjoyed a flying start, recording emphatic wins against Dublin and Kerry.
Donegal come into this match fresh from a resounding victory over the Munster champions, marking their first away win in Kerry since 1988.
However, they lost midfielder Michael Langan to injury early in that game and will have to manage without several key players, including Michael Murphy, as they navigate a gruelling run of three more matches before a much-needed break.
Armagh also have selection concerns, with midfielder Niall Grimley ruled out following his red card against Tyrone.
Match Details
Fixture: Donegal v Armagh
Competition: Division 1 National Football League, Round 3
Date and Venue: Sunday, February 16, MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
Throw-in: 3.45pm
Live Broadcast: TG4 will show the game live
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.