Fermanagh hurling Manager Joe Baldwin says that the goal for them in the league is to ensure their Division 3A status.

The Ernemen enjoyed a fruitful league campaign last season that resulted in promotion, but Baldwin acknowledges that having stepped up in quality, the target is a little different this time around.

“We set our stall out last year to try and win the league; this year it is a wee bit different – this grade is definitely a step up in standard, so we are looking to be competitive in every game and see if we can pick up a couple of wins.

“Certainly, it is vital to stay in this division – you don’t want to have all last year’s hard work undone by the possibility of not staying up.

“If we can do that we will be relatively happy with the league, and it will stand us in good stead for the Championship,” he said.

Baldwin says that preparations for the league have gone well, although they do have a couple of injuries to contend with at present.

“We are preparing very well and there is a nice wee buzz.

“We have a few injuries; Sean Corrigan will probably miss the start of the league, John Duffy is not going to be quite ready, and Aidan Flanagan is another who will miss the start, but if we can get them cleared up and get a few boys broken in through the league, we will know where we are at and we’ll be in a better position then,” he said.

The Erne boss though is expecting a very competitive division.

“Mayo have been about and played at a higher level, so they will know what it is all about, and Roscommon is the same, but it is going to be a competitive league and we will all take points off one another, which is a big thing,” he added.

However, the whole attention now is on the opening game against Monaghan in Clones and trying to put early points on the board.

“The focus for a while now has been on Monaghan and they will probably see this as a game they can take the points from, and they will be gunning for us as much as anyone else will.

“We saw from last year that if you get a good start it gives you momentum, and when we got momentum it was very hard to shift it, so we will be looking to get off to a good start,” he said.

And he believes that he has a strong competition for places.

“What we have now in Fermanagh hurling is a serious competition for places, and that is what you want, and it is up to the players to put their shoulder to the wheel and claim their place in the team in the league and to impress, going forward to Championship.

“We’re looking forward to seeing Danan [McGeough] and see what he brings, and some of the boys from Belleek have really stepped up.

“Odhran Johnston has developed into a fully-fledged athlete – he’s a ball winner and we can’t leave him out.

“A lot of boys haven’t hurled in quite a while, and they are raring to go.

"We'll no better at 4pm on Saturday as to where we are at and ultimately it is a game we want to go and win," stated Baldwin.