Tyrone joint boss Feargal Logan says facing Galway is a huge physical and mental task for his side ahead of Saturday’s All-Ireland opener at Salthill.
Logan and Brian Dooher’s side will be out of competitive action for five weeks by the time they take to Pearse Stadium.
Some of the optimism that followed the victory over All-Ireland champions Kerry and the win which relegated Armagh has faded away since their Ulster quarter-final defeat by Monaghan.
Read more: 2023 Ulster SFC Team of the Year: Champions Derry lead the way with nine places
Meanwhile, Galway have landed the Connacht Championship after wins over Roscommon and Sligo.
“That is an advantage to them,” said Logan.
“When you are winning and on a roll you just want to keep playing games. They are in a position now where they are being tipped as potential All-Ireland winners.
“I know that they weren’t that far away last season when you look at it. They are a form team and one of the top teams in the country at the minute.
“They are in the happy position of winning games and you can’t beat that. We will have it all to do in Salthill to get a result. We just have to land there and get on with it. I’m hoping that our boys are ready physically and mentally and go at it hard.
“They (Galway) may have lost a few players to travelling and injury this year but I feel that their squad still has more depth to it than it had last year.
“Not only in their panel but if you look at their forwards and midfield any one of them can play well on any given day.
“They have a couple of standout names like (Shane) Walsh and (Damien) Comer but you can put (Matthew) Tierney into that, (Peter) Cooke into it, (Ian) Burke, (Johnny) Heaney.
“They have a serious forward unit and serious depth to come in so it’s going to be a massive, massive challenge for us.”
Logan is pleased to be out of “no man’s land.”
“Teams generally prefer to be playing matches,” he said.
“Once you get the group formed and you know what weekends your matches are on you have to knuckle down and focus.
“We have been training away and we are hoping that it all comes to bear fruit on Saturday evening.”
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