Neil Loughran looks at the fine details which could sway Sunday's game in Celtic Park...
MAN OF THE MOMENT
Connor McAliskey (Tyrone)
The doubters question whether Tyrone have the scoring forwards to make a real impression at All-Ireland level this year but, against a defensively-sound Cavan outfit at Croke Park last month, McAliskey looked the part.
He scored five points from play as he switched from the right in the first-half over to the left after the break and could have scored a goal when his ambitious volley soared just over the bar.
Oisin Duffy could have his hands full on Sunday if assigned the job of marking the Clonoe man.
TEAM TALK
Derry
T Mallon; O Duffy, B Rogers, K McKaigue; K Johnston, C McKaigue, G McKinless; N Holly, D Heavron; S Heavron, J Kielt, C McFaul; N Toner, E McGuckin, M Lynch
Kevin Johnston makes his return to county colours and comes into the wing-back post vacated by Sean Leo McGoldrick, who has failed to recover from a hamstring injury in time to feature. It was thought Sean Leo's brother Liam could get the nod at corner-back, but Oisin Duffy is named at number two.
Following a series of impressive performances for Lavey and the Derry U21s, boss Damian Barton has decided to hand Niall Toner a Championship debut at corner-forward, with Ryan Bell dropping out.
Tyrone
M O’Neill, A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron; T McCann, N Sludden, P Harte; C Cavanagh, M Donnelly; C McShane, M Bradley, R Donnelly; C McAliskey, S Cavanagh, R O’Neill
Mickey Harte has been forced into two changes from the team that beat Cavan in the Division Two final. Justin McMahon and Rory Brennan both miss out with hamstring injuries, so Niall Sludden and Peter Harte take their places in the half-back line alongside Tiernan McCann. It will be a first Championship appearance for Sludden.
Padraig McShane and Richard Donnelly come into the half-forward line, while Harte sticks with the full-forward line of Connor McAliskey, Sean Cavanagh and Ronan O’Neill, despite Darren McCurry’s return to fitness.
KEY BATTLE
Emmett McGuckin (Derry) v Cathal McCarron (Tyrone)
The pair have a bit of previous, it would be fair to say.
McGuckin was shown a second yellow card for tussling with McCarron seven minutes into the second-half of the counties’ Dr McKenna Cup group game back in January. The Magherafelt clubman accused McCarron of deliberately trying to get him sent-off, saying his actions “didn’t belong on a football field”.
Ronan McNamee picked up McGuckin in the league game in Omagh, but he can expect to renew acquaintances with McCarron on Sunday.
DERRY TACTICAL TAKE
It was expected Derry would come into this game with a defensive outlook to avoid leaving themselves open to Tyrone’s razor-sharp counter-attacks.
Boss Damian Barton has spoken of the need to find a balance after putting up, and conceding, big tallies throughout the league. If they start with a half-forward line of Ciaran McFaul, James Kielt and Shane Heavron, that would represent a fairly attacking move by the Newbridge man. Barton could also take a risk by including the relatively untested Lavey forward Niall Toner in the corner instead of Ryan Bell.
If Danny Heavron is named at midfield, he is likely to ape Colm Cavanagh’s role with Tyrone, dropping deep to mop up defensively. Brendan Rodgers is expected to start at full-back, picking up Sean Cavanagh.
TYRONE TACTICAL TAKE
Peter Harte and Niall Sludden, both of whom started in the half-forward line in the Division Two final against Cavan, are named at half-back.
Sludden is listed at centre-back, but is likely to switch to the wing, with Harte expected to be given license to roam forward and penetrate the Derry defence. Colm Cavanagh, as he does so effectively, will filter back.
The Red Hand half-forward line has an attacking look, with Cathal McShane coming in and Richard Donnelly - hugely effective so far this year - brought back into the fold. Gareth McKinless struggled to handle the Trillick man in Omagh and will be up against it on Sunday.
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING
2009 Ulster SFC semi-final: Derry 0-7 Tyrone 0-15
Four points from Tommy McGuigan helped defending All-Ireland champions Tyrone ease past Derry at Casement Park.
The Red Hands led by three at the break, 0-8 to 0-5, and Derry managed just two Eoin Bradley points in the second-half as Tyrone sealed a convincing win to move into an Ulster final against Antrim.
Derry full-back Kevin McGuckin was shown a straight red card after an off-the-ball clash as Tyrone took control in the second-half. He was involved in one of a number of ill-tempered exchanges as the game threatened to boil over in the latter stages.
WHO’S THE REF?
David Coldrick (Meath)
Was the man in the middle when Derry ambushed then All-Ireland champions Tyrone at Healy Park in 2006 and appears to be the man for the big occasion when a bit of niggle is expected in the Ulster Championship.
Coldrick has a reputation for trying to let the game flow - sometimes overlooking incidents that merit punishment - and expectations are the first 20 minutes could be a testy affair.
WEATHER WATCH
Around 11 degrees and light showers expected over Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon.
The sun could poke its head out occasionally but, other than perhaps being a bit slippy, conditions should be fine for football.
BETTING BOX
Derry 9/4; Draw 15/2; Tyrone 1/2
Handicap
Derry (+3) 8/11; Draw (-3) 9/1; Tyrone (-3) 13/10
Lead HT-FT
Tyrone 10/11
First goalscorer
Conor McAliskey 8/1
PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2009 Ulster SFC semi-final (Casement Park): Tyrone 0-15 Derry 0-7; 2006 Ulster SFC quarter-final (Healy Park): Tyrone 0-5 Derry 1-8; 2004 Ulster SFC preliminary round (Clones): Tyrone 1-17 Derry 1-6; 2003 Ulster SFC quarter-final replay (Casement Park): Tyrone 0-17 Derry 1-5; 2003 Ulster SFC quarter-final (Clones): Derry 1-9 Tyrone 0-12; 2002 All-Ireland Qualifiers round three (Casement Park): Tyrone 1-17 Derry 1-12; 2001All-Ireland quarter-final (Clones): Derry 1-9 Tyrone 0-7; 2001 Ulster SFC semi-final (Clones): Tyrone 3-7 Derry 0-14; 1997 Ulster SFC semi-final (Clones): Derry 2-15 Tyrone 2-3; 1996 Ulster SFC semi-final (Clones): Tyrone 1-13 Derry 1-8
