Who can you see winning the Anglo-Celt Cup this season?
There is no doubt that this is the most open Championship for a number of years with at least five counties expecting to come up trumps.
Tyrone defend the title they won last season, but Derry are buzzing, Donegal still maintain title ambitions while you can never rule out Armagh.
But it is last year's defeated finalists Monaghan that appear to be the team that could make the step up.
ANTRIM
The defeat on their home turf by Cavan was not what Antrim needed as they find themselves again confined to the Tommy Murphy Cup.
Missed chances was the pertinent point during the game, but the build-up did not exactly inspire those looking into the Antrim camp.
Maybe they can now take a leaf out of Wicklow's books. The Garden county defeated Antrim in last season's Murphy decider, a result that gave them the momentum to shock Kildare in the Leinster Championship.
Now it is up to the players to prove that they have the passion to follow suit and make a second successive trip to Croke Park.
Antrim 1-14 1-19 Cavan
ARMAGH
It is a Championship debut for Peter McDonnell who is hopeful of better times for the Orchard County which appears to building up a head of steam.
The new boss hopes to see atonement for lapses last season when they lost their opening tie to Donegal and then bowed out of the Qualifiers to Derry.
Senior citizens such as Oisin McConville, Steve McDonnell, Paul McGrane, Enda McNulty, and Aidan O'Rourke are still there to oversee a battalion of young guns.
Armagh are in the throes of a transition period at present and their form in most of the NFL was indifferent, suggesting that they will not be at the top of the betting for the Ulster title.
However, the late thumping win over Dublin will give their supporters renewed hope for the summer.
Key player: Paul McGrane
CAVAN
It has been a disappointing NFL campaign for Donal Keogan's side making their opening championship clash with Antrim a defining point.
However, Cavan did show some promising signs in the league as they defeated last year's All-Ireland finalists Cork in addition to losing a number of tight games.
The fact that the Division Two wooden spoonists have not been able to field a settled team has not helped Keoghan.
Cavan have been conceding too many scores in the league and still rely rather a lot on players who have been round the block quite a few times - Dermot McCabe, Anthony Forde. Mark McKeever and Jason Reilly.
Paul Grimley's coaching expertise has not been bringing tangible rewards so far, but that could change dramatically in the Championship.
Key player: Seanie Johnston
Antrim 1-14 1-19 Cavan
DERRY
One of the early favourites to lift the Anglo-Celt Cup, Derry's fusion of hunger, fitness and potency can be devastating.
Those attributes were to the fore when they defeated Kerry to lift the NFL Division One title. However, one wonders if they have already peaked ... but that would be dangerous thinking on behalf of opposition sides.
The Oak Leaf side go to Donegal for their opening tie and will require to pick their steps through what proved to be a lethal minefield for ambitious Armagh last year.
Derry boss Paddy Crozier is likely to be presented with the task of permutating his best team from about 24 players in the hope of thrusting the Oak Leafers back to the top again - and not just in an Ulster context.
Key player: Fergal Doherty
DONEGAL
The psychological scars suffered during last year's Ulster Championship remained imprinted on Donegal's morale for too long.
Brian McIver's side fluffed their lines when they faced a fluent and in-form Tyrone side in the semi-finals.
To make amends this time round, Donegal will first have to tame Derry, and then confront either Fermanagh or Monaghan in the last four.
Although they showed indifferent form in the NFL, they have enough experience, guile and subtlety to come good - providing they keep their discipline on and off the field.
Key player: Colm McFadden
DOWN
Down's sprightly start to the year when they won the McKenna Cup, suggested that they had received a wadge of confidence.
However, they blew a glorious chance of earning promotion from Division Three of the NFL when they suffered a bad defeat against Leitrim and a further reverse against Fermanagh means the doubts that have plagued Down football in recent years have all returned.
Manager Ross Carr is aware that his side are at times error prone which invariably proves fatal in the sudden death atmosphere of the championship.
The Mourne side lack the overall physical presence of other teams and while they have plenty of work-rate, pace and scoring flair in attack, it remains doubtful whether they are well-equipped to deal with the challenges invariably posed by the Championship.
Key player: Brendan Coulter
FERMANAGH
Few people expected new Erne boss Malachy O'Rourke to enjoy such a scintillating start to the NFL where Fermanagh topped Division Three before losing narrowly to Wexford in the final.
Bereft of a number of established players for a variety of reasons, optimism reigns with the westerners sparkling with breezy football.
Last year, Fermanagh gave Tyrone a major fright but this time they intend to do even better in the opener against Monaghan.
With a strong spirit still prevalent and with established players ready to return there is a healthy ration of versatility and experience on the bench which would not rule Fermanagh out of the frame.
Key player: Mark Murphy
MONAGHAN
Maybe we should whisper it right now but Monaghan would appear to be the choice of many people to lift the Ulster crown.
Their dynamic surge into the quarter-finals of the All Ireland Championship last year has been followed by a feisty NFL campaign, albeit missing out on promotion.
Manager Seamus McEnaney has a very committed squad at his disposal and his insistence that players will be picked on form rather than reputation is serving to keep everyone on their toes.
Monaghan boast a potentially productive midfield, a smart defence and quality forwards in Tommy Freeman and Paul Finlay who can punish defences from play and the placed ball.
If the Farney attack sees enough of the ball on an ongoing basis, then there is every possibility that the side could deliver the Ulster crown - but they will surely have to do it the hard way.
Key player: Paul Finlay
TYRONE
Rumours of Tyrone's demise are rampant but have they real substance?
Perhaps Mickey Harte's side have not covered themselves in glory in the NFL League, but with front-line troops such as the playmaking Brian McGuigan available again, do not rule out the Red Hands.
An opening assignment against Down at home will, should they be successful, be followed by a semi-final clash with Armagh, Cavan or Antrim.
On paper, Tyrone would appear capable of surmounting these hurdles although the prospect of a meeting with the Orchard County in the last four would certainly bring a new dynamic to the championship give the rivalry that exists between these neighbours.
Key player: Conor Gormley
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