Chrissy McKaigue reckons everyone is asking the same thing about Derry - can they 'take that next step' and win Sam?
The veteran defender is delighted with their consistency so far, claiming they're finally starting to 'realise our potential'.
The back to back Ulster champions are through to the last four in the All-Ireland race for the second season running.
Read more: Derry vs Kerry ticket details, TV and live stream information, betting odds and more
But the jury is out on whether they can push on for a landmark Sam Maguire Cup win - particularly with holders Kerry next up on Sunday week.
Man-marker McKaigue, who could go head to head with David Clifford, said: "That'll be the word on everyone's lips, including all the journalists and the media - have Derry the ability to take that next step?
"Look, it's been a difficult year with the circumstances, losing our manager and all those different things. As a player group, we've rallied rightly.
"We've done ourselves proud this year so far but look, this group is ambitious too, we want to be in All-Ireland semi-finals, we want to be playing against the best teams in the competition.
"In the last two years, we can say at least that we've done that. It's been huge progress but we're certainly ambitious for more."
Former captain McKaigue said the Oak Leafers overcame Cork last weekend 'with not too much fuss'.
His overall feeling is pride that their ambitious group is finally starting to hit its peak after years in the doldrums.
The Slaughtneil great said: "For this team now, we're starting to realise our potential. We're fairly consistent, back to back All-Ireland semi-finals, promotion to Division One this year with minimum fuss also. There's a lot of good happening in the county, the minors are in the All-Ireland final as well.
"So it's a good place to be at the minute and us being back in another All-Ireland semi-final will hopefully keep that momentum going within the county."
Derry were good value for their four-point quarter-final win over Cork though should have made life easier on themselves.
Shane McGuigan winced as he wasted a late penalty and then booted a poor wide shortly after, underlining the team's scope for improvement overall.
McKaigue said: "We're still a team learning our trade but we'd be best served now accelerating our learning because when you get into a semi-final, the levels go up, the pressure goes up, everything goes up a level and we would be best served realising that we're going to have to get considerably better for the next day.
"I think that's just in general, throughout the team. Defensively we're usually quite sound. I suppose the biggest thing for us to come away from the Cork game was that we're creating chances.
"Last year, against Galway, we maybe didn't. We weren't as creative as we were against Cork, just the shot execution and maybe some of the final phases were a wee bit sketchy against Cork.
"It's probably not a bad way to win a quarter-final, plenty of things to work on. If you were being a wee bit greedy, you'd like a good performance every day you go out."
McKaigue revealed earlier this year that he'd been 'ready to jack it in' on a couple of occasions in recent seasons.
But he stayed on and captained Derry to their breakthrough provincial win in 2022 with even greater gains potentially around the corner now.
He said: "I'll be 34 in 10 days' time. So we'll get through this year anyway. I just love seeing Derry do well. I've invested so much of my life in it and even when I finish playing there'll probably be an investment somewhere in it. It's just so good to see Derry back at the top table again."
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
