All-Star forward Shane Walsh has returned to the Galway starting line-up for Saturday’s All-Ireland round-robin opener against Dublin in Salthill.
Walsh has not played since injuring his back in the Division One loss to the Dubs on 15 March, but is named at centre-forward with Sean Fitzgerald dropping out in the only change from the Connacht final win over Mayo a fortnight ago.
Damien Comer remains ruled out for the Tribesmen after missing the Mayo game.
Dublin, in action for the first time since their stunning Leinster semi-final defeat by Meath, name 43-year-old Stephen Cluxton in goal, but Sean Bugler and Eoin Murchan are still missing.
Galway beat Dublin 0-17 to 0-16 in a nail-biting quarter-final in last year’s All-Ireland series.
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean Mulkerrin, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Sean Kelly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Cein Darcy, Shane Walsh, Cillian McDaid; Matthew Tierney, Rob Finnerty, Matthew Thompson.
Subs: Conor Flaherty, Daniel O’Flaherty, Cian Hernon, Kieran Molloy, Sean Fitzgerald, John Daly, Sam O’Neill, Cathal Sweeney, Liam O Conghaile, Tomo Culhane, Peter Cooke.
Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; David Byrne, Theo Clancy; Conor Tyrrell; Cian Murphy, John Small, Brian Howard; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Tom Lahiff; Niall Scully, Lorcan O’Dell, Ciaran Kilkenny; Paddy Small, Con O’Callaghan, Colm Basquel.
Subs: Evan Comerford, Luke Breathnach, Cormac Costello, Nathan Doran, Alex Gavin, Davy Keogh, Sean McMahon, Greg McEneaney, Killian McGinnis, Brian O’Leary, Dan O’Leary.
Mayo boss Kevin McStay makes one change for Sunday’s Group One game against Cavan.
Diarmuid O’Connor, who started the Connacht final defeat by Galway, is replaced by Sam Callina.
Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Rory Brickenden; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen, Matthew Ruane; Davitt Neary, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O’Shea, Darren McHale, Ryan O’Donoghue.
Subs: Adrian Phillips, Bob Tuohy, Conal Dawson, Conor Reid, Dylan Thortnon, Fenton Kelly, Fergal Boland, Frank Irwin, Kevin Quinn, Paddy Durcan, Paul Towey.