FORMER Armagh captain Jimmy Smyth believes that the Orchard county face a mammoth task on their return to Division One in a few months’ time.

Kieran McGeeney’s team will play in a regionalised top tier later this season for the first time since 2012 and Smyth, who led the county to the 1977 All-Ireland final, believes they will know exactly where they will stand following their Ulster derbies with Donegal, Monaghan and Tyrone.

“It was always going to be tough and especially with this new format, where it’s almost like an Ulster Championship, and playing Tyrone, Donegal and Monaghan.

“If you were going to pick the crème de la crème then they are the big ones.

“Donegal will come back this year. They missed out last year.

“Monaghan have seen Cavan win the championship. There’ll be no team-talks required by ‘Banty’ (Seamus McEnaney).

“Armagh couldn’t really have picked three worse opponents for themselves.

“Then you have Tyrone under their new manager of Mr (Feargal) Logan and Mr (Brian) Dooher.

“I am not saying Armagh can’t do it but by God they’re going to be put to the pin of their collar.

“Put it this way, when they have played those three matches they’ll know exactly where they are in the scheme of things.”

It still remains unclear when the National Leagues will actually throw in, although there is still hope that it will be either late March or early April.

Last week GAA director general Tom Ryan told county officials that they would provide at least a four-week window for teams between the return of collective training and the commencement of competitive games.

A new fixtures calendar will be released when a return to inter-county training is agreed upon, with the GAA’s Covid advisory group set to meet again next week to discuss the matter.