Division 1 of the Allianz Football League begins with Mayo and Monaghan's televised clash (Eir Sport) in Castlebar next Saturday. Mayo will take the field without their most high-profile player.
Aidan O'Shea picked up an ankle injury playing basketball for EJ Sligo's All-Stars. O'Shea returned to the basketball court for the first time in seven years this winter.
Stephen Rochford is breezily optimistic about O'Shea's chances of returning for the Kerry game the following week. Initially, there had been fears that the injury was more serious.
Aidan suffered an ankle injury which is not as serious as initially thought. He should return to training with us this week and while he won't make the Monaghan game we are hopeful he will be available for the match against Kerry.
But like all injuries, it is a matter of waiting and seeing how recovery progresses and making sure a player is ready to return.
It's quite possible that those disdainful of player power will gleefully point to O'Shea's basketball injury as evidence that he's not single-mindedly focused on Mayo football and the all-consuming quest for Sam.
It will probably serve as another stick to beat him with. Like Kieran Donaghy in Kerry, O'Shea has become the Mayo player whom rival supporters love to abuse. Pat Holmes's comments on the Toughest Trade may surface once more.
Pre-empting these wearily predictable charges, we might point to Liam McHale, one of Mayo's finest and most charismatic players, and Super League basketball champion with Ballina.
Or they could look to Galway. Jarlath Fallon spent the winter of 1997-98 playing club rugby and scrapping for a full-time pro contract with Connacht. In the end, he was offered a part-time contract. He declined it and returned to the Galway football set-up a few weeks before the first round in against Mayo. Four months later, his brilliance was instrumental in leading Galway to a the All-Ireland title.
