The traditional pre-season competitions in all four provinces may have been done away with for this year but this does not mean that players will be left kicking their heels.
With just three weeks to go until the Allianz Football League swings into action, various teams will take advantage of the opportunity to sample challenge match action before the league commences.
Games will be played under the new rules which will allow sides to further acquaint themselves with what is involved in their application.
All-Ireland champions Armagh will face Wicklow while Monaghan will confront what could prove to be a much-changed Mayo outfit.
Kieran McGeeney is anxious to see his Armagh side swing into action while Oisin McConville, his fellow All-Ireland winner from 2002, will be embarking on another year with Wicklow. The match between their teams will take place at Silverbridge on Sunday morning (11.30am).
Ethan Rafferty is expected to be back in the Armagh squad having missed most of last year because of illness and injury with Blaine Hughes having proven a more than capable deputy between the posts.
Meanwhile new Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan is particularly keen to see his term in charge get off on the right foot against Mayo in Castlebar on Saturday night (6.30pm) with the proceeds from the game going to Mayo’s charity partner The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Monaghan have enjoyed an extended stay in Division One of the League but suffered relegation last year and now find themselves with ground to make up.
There have been changes to the Mayo backroom team but Kevin McStay, who has given invaluable service to the county, continues on as manager and will be working hard to transform his team’s fortunes.
Last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists Galway will face Kildare in Newbridge on Saturday night (7.30pm) with the proceeds going to the Kildare team’s training fund.
It is understood that this will be Kildare’s first match under new manager Brian Flanagan who will be extremely keen to oversee his team’s return to Division Two.