Paddy Bradley is suffering from a heel injury

Bradley is suffering from a painful foot injury which he picked up in training last week.

The Glenullin player has been in the treatment room since, but Moran is confident that his captain and star will be ready.

''We fully expect that Paddy will be fit to play on Saturday,'' said Moran.

''He picked up some bruising on his heel and he has been getting treatment on it. It has caused him some discomfort but we are very hopeful that he will be fine to face Westmeath.

''We will no more after we get a look at Paddy at training on Tuesday night and see how he is responded to treatment.''

Bradley is a key ingredient of Derry's hopes to follow Fermanagh into the semi-finals.

He is bang on form having scored a goal and eight points against Wicklow and then adding another 18 points in the victories over Cavan, Wexford and Limerick.

Derry's other injury woes have cleared up with Kevin McCloy and Gerard O'Kane available for selection.

Paidi O Se, the Westmeath manager, has no injury worries and has a full squad to select from.