Promotion candidates or relegation contenders? The pendulum could swing either way for Fermanagh or Laois this afternoon at Brewster Park (3.30pm) as the sides meet in their rescheduled round three clash.
Both teams have one win, one defeat and one draw to date and have a two-point cushion to Longford and Wicklow, who prop up the Division Three table.
A victory would all but guarantee safety from the threat of relegation and would leave either side just a point behind league-leaders Limerick.
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There is likely to be further twists before the final standings are known later this month, but Fermanagh boss Kieran Donnelly is fully aware of what is at stake this afternoon.
“You don’t know what way it could swing and the Longford game was the same,” said Donnelly.
“We realised it was a massive game as the loser would be rooted to the foot of the table. That was an important one, but I think they are all important from here.
“We aren’t even thinking of either permutation – we are just looking to win and we’ll see where it takes us.
“It is unbelievably competitive and I think every team going into these next two or three games will feel they can win it.
“That was epitomised by Louth beating Westmeath last week. You couldn’t predict what way the Leagues are going to finish up until after the last game.”
He added: “Laois are a very strong and a very physical team and they’ll pose us problems that we haven’t faced yet this year.
“They’ve a very potent forward line and they are very direct and forceful. We are going to have to get our match-ups right against them.
“They will look to play to their strengths and play the ball long into their forwards so that’s something we’ll have to be wary of.”
Fermanagh opened their League campaign with a disappointing performance and a nine-point loss to Antrim in Brewster Park before claiming a point in Aughrim against Wicklow.
A waterlogged pitch at Brewster meant they sat out week three before gaining their first win at Pearse Park last weekend against Longford.
Donnelly hopes that win will be the catalyst for his charges to push on up the table in the closing stages of the League season.
“We’ve responded well from the Antrim game,” said Donnelly.
“That’s one thing I’ve felt since we’ve come together - you could never fault the attitude of our boys in how they apply themselves.
“It was good to get a point down in Wicklow, although we probably should have won it. We were happy enough to get a point and it is never an easy place to go. Longford, as well, is a notoriously difficult game for Fermanagh.
“We knew it was going to be another tough game and it was very pleasing to get a good performance.”
Donnelly is set to make a few late decisions regarding the fitness of some players, but he is hopeful that goalkeeper Sean McNally and midfielder Joe McDaid are available for selection for this afternoon's crucial Division Three tie.
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