Having been forced to take road trips on three successive occasions in the knock-outs last term, Eunan Brolly's side will be comforted by the fact that they're on familiar territory, and a win on Sunday will lead to their last eight tie, against Limerick Desmond or Wicklow, being played at home in two weeks' time.

Brolly, who will plan no further than they first hurdle, will wait until closer to the weekend to see the lie of the land with his squad. Garbhan Grant, Josh Mailey and Cory Gallagher spent the beginning of the week in Cork as part of the LYIT side in the CFAI Umbro Cup series, while Brolly might also have a number of clubs requiring their players.

"With the game being on a Sunday, there might be a few Donegal League clubs that are after their players, but we'll see what we can do on that later in the week," he said. "It's a slight worry, but we'll see how it plans out. We've a good squad of players here and hope to make the most of it.

In the group, West Waterford - East Cork beat the Kilkenny League 3-1, were hammered 6-2 by the Waterford & District Junior League and edged out the Tipperary Southern & District League, 3-2.

"I know absolutely nothing about our opponents at the minute, but did learn that they're from what was described as a 'very small league' with only 10 or 12 clubs," Brolly continued.

"People forget that we have only the eight to pick from! Seriously though, with the game being at home, and the next one should we win, then there is a great incentive there. Last year, we only played one game out of six at home in the whole competition, so we're blessed this year in some ways."

Donegal warmed up for this weekend's tie, which is essentially in the last 12 of the competition, with a 3-1 loss against Derry City at Dry Arch Park last weekend.

That game did, though, give Brolly the opportunity to run the rule over six or seven players that might force their way into his plans, as well as getting a run-out on the pitch upon which they will compete this Sunday.

Brolly's team opened splendidly in the competition, hammering Sligo-Leitrim 5-1 at Flagpole Park in Rathmullan in the November sunshine when Gavin McGlanaghy grabbed a hat-trick, while Michéal Herrity and Seamus Friel were also on target.

Then, at Milebush Park in Castlebar, which was smothered in fog, they posted a 2-0 away win against Paul McVeigh and a Mailey show penalty. Donegal rounded off things with a 3-2 victory over the Inishowen League at a windy Screaban in Gweedore, when Mailey, McGlanaghy and McGeever all scored.

Donegal have reached the semi-final in each of the last three seasons and are looking to make the last eight for the ninth time in succession.

Their only win in the competition came in 2003 when the team managed by Anthony Gorman defeated the Eircom League at Diamond Park in Ballyare.

Donegal Youth League: Marty McGinty (Bonagee United), Josh Mailey (Letterkenny Rovers), Garbhan Grant (Letterkenny Rovers), Gary Merritt (Rathmullan-Milford), Gavin McGlanaghey (Rosses Academy), Jamie Boyle (Gweedore Celtic), Jamie Doherty (Letterkenny Rovers), Kevin McFadden (Glenea United), Odhran MacNiallais (Gweedore Celtic), Cory Gallagher (Rosses Academy), Darren McGeever (Glenea United), Barry McNamee (Swilly Rovers), Johnny Harkin (Glenea United), Shay Coyle (Fanad United), Chris McBride (Finn Harps), Seamus Friel (Fanad United), Paul McVeigh (Fanad United), Ciaran Gallagher (Glenea United).