Preview Derry v Tyrone: Amid all the repeats that the various provincial championships foist upon us, there can hardly be one as unloved as this. The relationship between the two counties is intensely edgy and never seems to encompass the middle ground where the vast majority of supporters in other similar rivalries can sit back, talk about it or laugh it off.
Within the counties is a view that to characterise the football as niggly and claustrophobic is a preoccupation of the southern media but few of the recent matches between Tyrone and Derry will be taken down off the shelf and lovingly viewed outside of the winning county.
The best of recent times was last year's qualifier in Casement Park, illuminated by Peter Canavan's display and the gutsy refusal of Derry to let the match go, so we'll hope for the best tomorrow.
As things stand Tyrone look solid favourites. Their efficient displays in the National League culminated in back-to-back titles, whereas Derry failed to get out of Division Two. But last Sunday's crash by champions Armagh reminds us that nothing is certain in Ulster football and if Monaghan could do that, there's no telling what might pass between Derry and Tyrone.
Both teams are under new management. Mickey Moran, on his second stint with Derry, will have used the time since the league embarrassment to hone his team's challenge. He will have devised a game plan to get the best out of his fairly decent raw material.
Pre-match speculation surrounds the deployment of Anthony Tohill. Has he the legs for another season at midfield? Probably not. So will he play an orthodox full forward role? Again, unlikely. Switching Tohill and Enda Muldoon between partnering Fergal Doherty and the edge of the square is the most widely touted solution.
Whatever the configuration, Derry are still likely to experience mobility problems countering Sean Kavanagh and Cormac McAnallen.
Defence will pay its way with Sean Martin Lockhart - a terrible loss last year - expected to shadow Canavan. But Tyrone do appear to be stronger in attack this season, with Eoin Mulligan sharing his captain's workload throughout the spring with great panache.
Tyrone are set to play Gavin Devlin at centre back regardless of his likely imminent suspension - a tribute to the strength in depth and adaptability of the panel, which will replace Devlin in time if manager Mickey Harte has to.
Derry's abiding problem has been the conversion of opportunities into scores, particularly from half forward. It's reasonable to remain sceptical about their capacity to improve on that and given that Tyrone trigger no such scepticism, they should live up to their dangerous billing as favourites.
DERRY: M Conlon; SM Lockhart, N McCusker, K McGuckin; P McFlynn, K McCloy, K Doherty; E Muldoon, F Doherty; G Diamond, C Gilligan, M O'Neill; P Bradley, A Tohill, D Dougan.
TYRONE: J Devine; C Lawn, C Holmes, M McGee; C Gormley, G Devlin, P Jordan; C McAnallen, S Cavanagh; B Dooher, B McGuigan, S O'Neill; E McGinley, P Canavan, O Mulligan.
