Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh does not believe home advantage will have a huge bearing on Saturday’s Division game against Tyrone at Celtic Park [18:00 GMT, live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport NI website].
The Oak Leaf side host their neighbours and old rivals with both teams going into the game with a point to prove as they search for an opening win.
Meenagh’s side fell to Meath in their opening game at Croke Park, but are back on home soil for this all-Ulster clash yet the Derry boss insists “it’s not really an away fixture for Tyrone” who are used to playing at the venue.
“It’s two neighbouring counties, so in terms of travel I don’t think it will be much of an advantage for us,” Meenagh told BBC Sport NI following Derry’s defeat to Meath.
“We’ll see how it goes, dust ourselves down and take the lessons from it [Meath defeat] and hopefully will improve.
“It’s a big fixture but it’s still January. It’s big in terms of trying to get promotion, but overall there’s bigger scheme of things.”
Meenagh welcomed back Slaughtneil pair Brendan Rogers and Shane McGuigan last week following their club hurling championship exploits.
Both are still to get fully up to speed, but Meenagh feels that’s true for every team as they build into the new season.
“Every team will be better after the first round, us included,” he added.
“Playing games in other pitches with different conditions won’t be as favourable as Croke Park is where the ball was greasy and it was windy, but that’s winter football and I’m sure it will be like that for another few weeks.”