The Lake County are on the road for their first two provincial outings.
Westmeath are starting their Leinster Championship campaign in the "lions den" this weekend according to Paul O'Sullivan of the Westmeath Topic.
Joe Fortune's men secured their Division One status with a win over Laois in a relegation play-off last month.
Their first game of the provincial championship sees them head down to Kilkenny to take on the cats.
The two sides are yet to meet this season after their league campaigns ran through divisions 1A and 1B.
O'Sullivan says despite some good performances in the league, Westmeath will have to move up a level on Saturday:
Our coverage of Westmeath against Kilkenny is sponsored by O’Brien’s Renault Mullingar. . see pobrien dot ie and Total Tile Centre Mullingar, call to our showroom to view over 300 tiles on display
Offaly Travel To Tyrone In National Football League
Laois And Westmeath Clash In National Football League
Three AIL Wins In A Row The Aim For Buccaneers This Weekend
LGFA: Back To Back Wins The Goal For Westmeath
Shane Lowry Records Opening Round 70 At Cognizant Classic
We Hope To Give The Fans Something To Shout About - Ian Ryan
Maher Milking All She Can From Farming And Starring In Offaly Engine Room
NHL: Offaly Face Limerick In Final League Game
Portlaoise Panthers Looking To Continue Good Form In Division One
Shane Lowry In Action In Florida This Week
NHL: Improving Each Week The Goal For Laois
Grainne Walsh Progresses At Strandja Memorial Tournament
Crunch Weekend For Midlands Sides In National Camogie League
James Gormley Named On Irish Squad For FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers
Portlaoise Panthers Suffer Tough Defeat In Super League
CCFL: St Peter's Extend Their Advantage At Top Of Premier Division
NFL: Relegation Firmly On The Cards For Offaly
Laois "Devastated" By Defeat Despite Delivering "Manliness" - Justin McNulty
Big Camogie Wins for Westmeath and Laois Over The Weekend