Ross Carr succeeded Paddy O'Rourke as Down manager

The duo are included in a squad which is minus several regulars, including Benny Coulter.

Down boss Ross Carr is opting to rest the regulars during the competition. Antrim welcome back Sean McGreevy who has returned to the county squad.

The Antrim squad includes Gavin Bell who also play county hurling.

Goalkeeper McGreevy retired from the county scene a couple of years ago but he has been coaxed back into the fold by new Saffron boss Jody Gormley.

Down and Ireland star Coulter will be joined on the sidelines during the McKenna Cup by the likes of Michael Walsh, Alan Molloy, Dan Gordon, Liam Doyle, Adrian Scullion, Ronan Sexton, Ronan Murtagh and John Clarke.

The other Section C clash takes place at Ballyshannon with Donegal facing UUJ.

Donegal boss Brian McIver's side has seven newcomers: goalkeeper Ciaran Sharkey, Peter Witherow, Joe Friel, Ryan Bradley, Johnny McLoone, Kevin McMenamin and Benny Byrne.

Experienced men Eamon McGee, Barry Monaghan, Barry Dunnion and Adrian Sweeney are also included in the team.

UUJ are without Peter Donnelly (broken arm) for the game against Donegal.

Antrim: S McGreevy, D Gault, C Brady, L Higgins, S McVeigh, G Bell, N Ward, J Quinn, D Martin, A Gallagher, M McCann, E O'Neill, P Close, C Close (c), M Rea.

Down squad: Bernard Connell (Drumgath), Aidan Burns (Castlewellan), Adrian Carville (Bryansford), Martin Cole (Rostrevor), Darren Cunningham (Saval), Barry Doran (Longstone), Kevin Gracey (Downpatrick), Conor Gribben (Bryansford), Eoin Henry (Warrenpoint), Stephen Kearney (Mitchels), Brendan Loughran (Shamrocks), Jack Lynch (Drumgath), Padraig Matthews (Clonduff), Ruairi McArdle (Castlewellan), Martin McClean (Kilcoo), Michael McVeigh (Castlewellan), Colin McCrickard (Liatroim), Brendan McGourty (Ballycran), Fintan McGreevy (Castlewellan), Kevin McGuigan (Shamrocks), Colm Murtagh (Glenn), Brendan Rodgers (Mayobridge), Brian Sweeney (St Michaels), Peter Telford (Downpatrick), Stephen Toner (Bryansford), Kevin Duffin (Castlewellan), Declan Rooney (Burren), Peter Turley (Downpatrick), Peter Turley (Saval), Gareth Johnson Ballygalget

Donegal: C Sharkey, P Witherow, P Campbell, F McGlynn, E McGee, B Monaghan, B Dunnion, J Friel, C Toye, R Bradley, B Roper, J McLoone, K McMenamin, B Byrne, A Sweeney.

Dr McKenna Cup

Sunday 7 January (all 1400 GMT)

Section A
St Mary's v Armagh (at Crossmaglen)
Fermanagh v Monaghan (Irvinestown)

Section B
Derry v Cavan (Celtic Park)
Queen's University v Tyrone (Omagh)

Section C
Donegal v UUJ (Ballyshannon)
Down v Antrim (Downpatrick)