Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has said he will let others decide if they are favourites, as Round Two of the 2010 Dr McKenna Cup gets underway this weekend.
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The Ulster Council postponed the Cup's opening fixtures, which were due to take place last week, because of the ongoing cold snap.
The Red Hand County are now set to start their campaign on Sunday at Healy Park where they are expected to beat Saint Mary's.
But Harte told UTV there will be tough challenges.
"We are just going in to do the best we can," he said.
"We are hoping the players do the best they can and if that is the case then, hopefully, that (favourites) tag will sit with them very well."
Harte said the squad was eager to get going with the competition, which he sees as a "great run-in to the National League."
"People are looking forward to competitive football again and the McKenna Cup has filled that niche very well at this time of year - the competition is rejuvenated," he told UTV.
The opening fixtures, which were called off last weekend, will now be played on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January.
The semi-finals have been pushed back to Wednesday 27 January.
The competition will mark the managerial debuts of both Paddy O'Rourke in Armagh and James McCarten in Down.
"They're going to be a great asset to both counties they're involved in and unfortunately for the rest of us, it will make our lives harder," Mickey Harte said.
2010 Dr McKenna Cup Revised scheduled:
Sat 16th Jan: Round 2:
- Group A: Armagh v UUJ at Crossmaglen (2.00pm)
- Group B : Cavan v Donegal at Kingspan Breffni Park (7.00pm)
- Group C: Down v Queens at Pairc Esler (7.00pm)
Sun 17th Jan: Round 2:
- Group A: Fermanagh v Monaghan at Brewster Park
- Group B: Tyrone v St. Mary's at Healy Park
- Group C: Antrim v Derry at Casement Park
Wed 20th Jan: Round 3:
- Group A: Monaghan v Armagh at Inniskeen, Fermanagh v UUJ at Brewster Park
- Group B: Cavan v St Mary's at Kingspan Breffni Park, Donegal v Tyrone at Ballybofe
- Group C: Down v Antrim at Pairc Esler, Derry v Queens at Celtic Park
Sat 23rd / Sun 24th Jan: Round 1:
- Group A: Monaghan v UUJ at Inniskeen, Armagh v Fermanagh at Crossmaglen
- Group B: Donegal v St. Mary's at Ballybofey, Tyrone v Cavan at Healy Park
- Group C: Derry v Down at Celtic Park, Antrim v Queens at Casement Park
Wed 27th Jan: Semi Finals
- (1) Best Runners Up v Winner of Section C
- (2) Winner of Section A v Winner of Section B
Sat 30th Jan: Final: 1 v 2
© UTV News