Mayo were relegated from Division 2B last year, so they are one of the favourites for promotion this season.
Saturday’s clash will be the first in the league between the two sides since 2018, which the Westerners won.
They have in fact won all three of their recent clashes with Armagh, including the 2016 Nicky Rackard Cup final.
2021: Mayo 2-23 Armagh 2-9 (Nicky Rackard Cup semi-final)
This encounter was closer than the scoreline suggests, but Mayo deserved their place in the Nicky Rackard Cup final.
The scoring power of former footballer Keith Higgins proved too strong in the end. The four-time football All-Star hit 0-11.
Fionntan Donnelly rattled the net on the stroke of half time to put Armagh narrowly ahead, 1-7 to 2-5.
Simon Doherty added another major from the penalty spot, but Mayo were much the better side after the turnaround.
2018: Armagh 2-13 Mayo 3-15 (National Hurling League R2)
This clash took place in Division 2B, as Armagh were relegated from Division 2A 12 months beforehand.
The Orchard lost out heavily to Wicklow in the first round, 4-20 to 1-12, so hoped to bounce back against Mayo.
But that’s not how it proved in the Athletic Grounds, as the Westerners earned a five-point triumph.
Odhran McCann and Eoin McGuinness netted for the home side while Keith Higgins hit 2-1 for the eventual winners.
2016: Mayo 2-16 Armagh 1-15 (Nicky Rackard Cup Final)
Armagh lost the Nicky Rackard Cup final to Roscommon in 2015 so were back in Croke Park to make amends in 2016.
They’d faced Mayo during the group stages, and the Westerners claimed an eight-point victory in round two.
The decider in Croke Park was a much tighter affair, but once again it was Mayo who prevailed in the end.
Eoin McGuinness claimed Armagh’s only goal of the game, but it wasn’t enough for them to get their hands on some silverware.
