The GAA insists the new turf in Croke Park will be in excellent condition, but it still has to face judges from the six counties involved in this weekend's All-Ireland football quarterfinals.

The ultimate verdict on the turf will be made by the players from Cork, Donegal, Kildare, Tyrone, Dublin and Kerry in the three-match program tomorrow and Monday. Some have already expressed reservations over what they regard as a huge gamble with the surface at the peak of the championship season.

However, the GAA remains adamant that the new turf will be just fine — although it will be a few weeks before it will look at its greenest and best. While the poor weather will disappoint people heading away for the Bank Holiday weekend, it's exactly what the new surface needs to maximize growth.

Cork and Donegal will be first onto it for their throw-in tomorrow, followed by Kildare v Tyrone

A crowd of around 45,000 is expected tomorrow with the Dublin-Kerry game expected to sell out at over 82,000 as Pat Gilroy's team look for a first championship win over Kerry since 1977.

Meanwhile, Mayo will discover this evening who their quarterfinal opponents will be when Meath take on Limerick in the final Round 4 qualifier tie in Portlaoise.