Athletic Grounds can be intimidating - McCullagh

Tyrone coach Colm McCullagh feels dominating possession can help quieten the Armagh support [Getty Images]

Tyrone coach Colm McCullagh feels dominating possession is key to silencing the Armagh support when the teams meet at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday.

The Red Hands enter the Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round tie against their neighbours as underdogs after an underwhelming league campaign in Division Two.

Attendances at their home fixtures early in the season dropped off and while a local derby in the championship may encourage more to travel to Armagh on Sunday, home supporters are expected to be in the majority with the game heading towards a sell-out.

That cauldron-like atmosphere will make life a little more difficult for Tyrone, but McCullagh feels there is only one way to reduce the decibel level.

"We played Armagh in the McKenna Cup and there were over 7,000 at it on a Friday night - you are talking about 2,000 at a Tyrone [National] League game," said McCullagh, who won two All-Ireland medals during his own playing days with Tyrone.

"Armagh have got serious support. It can be an intimidating place to go to. It's a close ground and there is a serious atmosphere about it.

"In terms of keeping the crowd quiet, it is just trying to get your hands on as much ball as possible and trying to do as much damage or harm as you can when you are in possession of the ball. When you are not, trying to limit it, I would say.

"The crowd in Armagh is hard to quiet any day."

Padraig Hampsey and Kieran McGeary are expected to be available this week, which will boost the Red Hands after a disappointing league campaign.

One positive from the early part of the year was the breakthrough of Ethan Jordan who has turned his attentions to Gaelic football after a spell with local soccer club Armagh City.

An All-Ireland winner at minor level alongside Darragh Canavan and Joe Oguz, Jordan hit 1-9 in both the draw against Kildare and defeat by Meath, accurate from play, frees and from deep.

"Ethan has been a good help and in terms of those two-pointers, if he gets an opportunity he is accurate," said McCullagh who also played both codes.

"He is new to inter-county. His body is getting used to all that as well in terms of the load of training.

"He has picked up a few knocks and injuries. He was in a game and then missed a game so he hasn't had a clean run of games. His body is probably getting used to it as well, the demands of training."