John Heslin has been drafted straight into the Westmeath team for Sunday's Allianz Football League Division 2 clash against Galway at Cusack Park (throw-in: 2.30pm).

Heslin recently returned from Australia - where he had been on a Australian Rules football contract with the Richmond Tigers - and he has been selected at midfield alongside Athlone's Paul Bannon.

The team shows three changes from the team which started the 12-point defeat to Meath last time out.

In addition to Heslin, Michael Curley and Ger Egan have been named in the starting fifteen, with Ronan Foley, Trevor English (Tang) and Callum McCormack (Maryland) the players to lose out.

Ger Egan missed Westmeath's opening two games through injury, but the Athlone IT student returned to action in recent challenge matches against Longford (U21) and Wicklow (senior).

Westmeath will face Carlow in the Leinster U21 FC next Wednesday night, March 7 (IT Carlow grounds, 7.30pm). Luke Dempsey's Carlow side defeated Wicklow in the opening round at Baltinglass on Wednesday night last.

Meanwhile, Galway manager Alan Mulholland has made a number of changes to the side which played out a draw with Louth three weeks ago.

Manus Breathnach returns to goal while Kieran McGrath comes in at corner-back for his first league game this year. Gary Sice starts in defence moving back from the half-forward line.

There are also first starts for Joe Bergin at midfield and Conor Doherty in the half-forward line. Padraic Joyce recently returned to the Galway set-up but he's not in the starting team for the clash against Westmeath.

Galway had an impressive away win over Derry in their first outing and are hot favourites to collect another two points in Mullingar on Sunday.

Westmeath SF v Galway: 1. Gary Connaughton, 2. Michael Curley, 3. Kieran Gavin, 4. Kevin Maguire, 5. Daniel McDermott, 6. Michael Ennis, 7. Aidan Finnan, 8. John Heslin, 9. Paul Bannon,  10. Kieran Martin, 11. Ger Egan, 12. Philip Sheridan, 13. Alan Giles, 14. David Glennon, 15. Paul Sharry. 

Subs: 16. Darren Quinn, 17. Ronan Foley, 18. David Gavin, 19. Kieran Sheridan, 20. Ben Moran, 21. Tommy Warburton, 22. Trevor English, 23. Callum McCormack, 24. John Egan, 25. Mark Gorman, 26. Denis Glennon.

Galway (SF v Westmeath) - Manus Breathnach, Kieran McGrath, Finian Hanley, Keith Kelly, Garreth Bradshaw, Johnny Duane, Gary Sice, Thomas Flynn, Joe Bergin, Conor Doherty, Paul Conroy, Mark Hehir, Michael Martin, Nicky Joyce, Danny Cummins.