DERRY hope to have two of their top defenders back for the Ulster Championship clash against arch-rivals Tyrone.
Dermot McBride and Kevin Johnston would be great boosts for the Oak Leaf team, with both seeming set to miss the entire National Football League campaign. Neither looks likely to feature against Armagh this Sunday, with no risks required by manager Damian Barton as Derry are effectively safe from the threat of relegation from Division Two.
Only defeat by at least 11 points by the Orchard men, combined with a Meath win in Laois and Fermanagh picking up at least a point against Tyrone, would demote Derry on scoring difference.
So it's understandable assistant manager Tony Scullion acknowledged their eyes are turning towards the Ulster quarter-final against the Red Hands. That Celtic Park encounter will be on May 22, less than two months away, but two of their best man-markers could be back in contention.
Ballinascreen's McBride got injured during this year's McKenna Cup, while Johnston of Dungiven suffered knee ligament damager in last year's Ulster semi-final against Donegal.
Asked about the pair, Scullion said: "Dermot McBride got good news, well, compared to what he had been getting. He got pretty good news, they think it'll be a couple of weeks and he'll be back out onto the field again. We're hoping he'll be ready for the Championship."
As for Johnston, Scullion hailed him as "a legend at such a young age. He'll tick every box that's required to get himself fit again, he's a great, great lad. A great wing-back for Derry this last year or two.
"He's back out on the field, he's back playing in-house matches with us, so he'll be ready to go in the next couple or three weeks."
It's unsurprising Scullion is seeking defensive improvement, given that Derry let in two more goals against Meath last Sunday, bringing their 'against' tally to 8-88, with only Laois (11-85) having a worse defensive record across all four divisions so far (Cork are equally as bad as Derry with 9-85 against).
"We have to look at ourselves as a team, everyone included - the two goals [we conceded]," he added.
"We haven't kept a clean sheet through the National League, we've conceded goals in every game. Even though the defence was very good, we had two bad lapses in concentration which led to Meath goals and that was killing us. Defence starts at number 15."
Of course, Scullion insisted sights were still set on what he agreed will be a tough match against Armagh, who need a win to have a serious chance of staying up: "Absolutely, I've had great battles with Armagh down the years. They're a great team who play with great heart, great passion. Kieran McGeeney will bring the best out of Armagh, a great man.
"We're looking forward to it - it's a great challenge for us to go to the Athletic Grounds next Sunday. Absolutely, after next Sunday we are preparing for May 22, the Championship against Tyrone - but what better preparation can you get than playing Armagh in the Athletic Grounds?"
A legendary Derry defender himself, Scullion urged patience among supporters, pointing out the side has been short of experienced players for much of this Division Two campaign: "That's a young Derry team, I don't think people realise," he said.
"There's no Fergal Doherty and Patsy Bradley any more. When you look at that team, you'd no Dermot McBride, no Enda Lynn. You'd Mark Lynch only coming back from injury - he had a long injury list. We need to get boys back on the field and I think those with injuries are coming round.
"Our midfield is completely new. Fergal Doherty and Patsy Bradley were two legends for Derry, they're gone and we have to build. Let's crawl before we walk and even before we run".
