Pádraig Joyce's side travel to Breffni Park on Saturday with a host of permutations in play. Joyce will no doubt pass no heed to such possibilities. Take care of business, win the game and the rest takes care of itself.
Their opponents, Armagh, are the only team already qualified going into this weekend after their Round 2 victory over Dublin. The return of Rian O’Neill and Rory Grugan in the attack has played a major role in the Orchard county's resurgence in form.
These two sides last met in the opening fixture of the National League, with Galway winning against McGeeney's side in what was the start of a new era for Gaelic football.
Armagh have adapted to the new environment since, using their accurate range shooting and patient build-up to break and wear teams down.
Galway have also managed to adapt to the new landscape of the sport, their two-point shooting was particularly impressive in the National League campaign. The Tribesmen have struggled recently to exhaust the maximum out of their star men. This was exemplified by Joyce's decision to replace Shane Walsh, Paul Conroy, and Cillian McDaid against Derry.
Getting the most out of Galway's big-hitters will be pivotal in their quest to progress to the latter stages of the All-Ireland championship.
The Tribesmen have a lot more at stake for them against their recent rivals, with only a positive result enough to guarantee them a place in the preliminary quarter-finals.
Pádraig Joyce’s Connacht champions will be determined to get over the line, Armagh's motivation is more difficult to predict - an opportunity to rest key players, or an opportunity to stick the knife into a major challenger?
All will be revealed in this Saturday's nerve-jangling encounter as Galway's All-Ireland fate is decided at Breffni Park. Throw-in is 6.30pm.
