Fermanagh selector Shane McCabe feels that the games between now and the end of the league are going ramp up in terms of difficulty for Fermanagh, starting this Saturday with a meeting against Derry at Brewster Park.
It has been a case of so far so good for Fermanagh with three wins out of three in the league but McCabe believes that Saturday night’s clash with the Oak Leaf side will be their toughest to date.
“We are very aware that the first three matches, while they were tough at stages, were possibly against three of the weaker teams in the division. 
“It is great to win matches, we’re delighted to have three wins out of three, but nobody is getting carried away and the boys fully understand that the next part of the league is going to be the toughest part, starting with next Saturday night,” he said.
Derry claimed their first win of the campaign with victory over Offaly last week which will give them added confidence and McCabe says that there is also the Ulster aspect to the game.
“Derry are coming into the game on the back of a good win so they will be boosted by that. 
“This match is going to be a big step up in quality and it’s also an Ulster derby and that brings different challenges. It will be more physical and the intensity will be higher,” added the Belcoo man.
The players will also have have clear memories of last season’s defeat to Derry which ended in relegation for Fermanagh. The Erne side had led for the vast majority of the game but a late goal cost them their spot in Division Two.
“It’s a new year and new management with new ideas but there is no doubt that the players will have that in the backs of their minds.
“Look, Fermanagh have a poor record against Derry over the last number of years and Derry will have no fear of Fermanagh so the boys will know that they have to be on their game.
“However, we will be looking to go out and put in a good performance and if we can do that then there is no reason why we cannot come out on the right end of the result,” he stated.
One area that Fermanagh will be keen to improve is there conversion rate and McCabe says that it is something that they continue to work on.
“I know we have been comfortable for the majority of the matches in the league but our conversion rate is nowhere near where we would like it to be and it is not at the level to beat  the better teams in the division. The boys have been working hard at it and getting into the right positions but they need to be more clinical to get the wins to keep us in contention for promotion,” he said.
McCabe though says that the management are pleased with the work and effort that the players are putting in.
“I would know a lot of the boys having played with and against them and one thing I would know is that they are very receptive and willing to learn. They are very good to work with and there has been a lot of good work done but there is also a lot more to be done,” he commented.
The former Fermanagh player though feels that if Fermanagh can pick up the points on Saturday night then they are going to be in a good position in that battle for promotion at the top of the table.
“We realise that the teams at the start of the league possibly aren’t as strong as the teams at the end of our campaign and we have tough games to go but if we can get a win on Saturday it would put us in a great position with eight points on the board and three games to go,” he added.