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NOT for the first time, Leitrim are working off the bare bones of a squad.
On Sunday, they'll face Mayo for the first time since last summer's 22-point humiliation in the Connacht championship.
At this stage of the season, most other counties are running extended panels that number somewhere in the region of 40, but Leitrim will have to do it the hard way as they have just over 20 bodies fit and available.
The situation will be eased considerably in the coming weeks. Former Longford player Enda Williams has recently returned from a holiday in Australia, while Barry Prior will also come back into the mix after spending time abroad.
Conor Beirne is another who has returned to the panel – he hit 1-3 in the 2011 Connacht championship win over Sligo – while Gary Reynolds is also back in contention.
A recent acquisition from Kildare under the parentage rule, Cian Reynolds, is set to join the panel after his O'Byrne Cup commitments with Carlow IT finish.
"We're tight enough for numbers at the minute," county captain Emlyn Mulligan said. "Against Roscommon the last day, we basically used everyone we had available. But we're getting a few lads back. We need to have everyone available to be competitive and if we can keep lads fit, we'll be okay."
Late last year, Mulligan took the decision to transfer from Leitrim county champions Melvin Gaels to the St Brigid's club in Blanchardstown.
"It was a hard decision to make. I spoke to my family. I know some people around home might not have been too happy, but I had recently moved to Blanchardstown and the commute was too much," he explained.
"And when you have men like (Brigid's manager) Gerry McEntee talking to you, it's very flattering. I haven't played with them yet, but I've met them.
"There are some serious players there. And it's the most competitive championship in the country so it can only bring you on as a player.
"With all due respect, it'll be a lot different to playing in Leitrim. I'll have to be playing very well to get a game there, so, hopefully, it'll help me improve.
"If we hadn't won the championship last year, it might have been different, but I won't be in Dublin forever, so I hope to get back and play for them (Melvin Gaels) one day."
There was, however, no question of leaving Leitrim behind, despite the travel involved.
Mulligan burst on to the scene in 2008, but didn't play championship again for the county again until 2011 due to successive cruciate injuries and feels like he has to make up for lost time.
"My work is based in Longford, so Leitrim training is an hour from here. And it used to be an hour away when I was living at home in Kinlough. I've missed a lot of football through injury and to play for your county is what you dream of as a kid and that's what I'm looking forward to doing. To be captain is a bonus and a huge honour."
Leitrim are in Division 4 once more and the basement league looks more of a snake pit than ever. Offaly have caught the eye under Emmet McDonnell, while Clare are sure to be reinvigorated under Mick O'Dwyer.
"It's going to be difficult. Look at some of the teams that got out of that division in recent years. The likes of Sligo, Antrim and Tipperary all got up to Division 2, so there's very little difference between Divisions 3 and 4," said Mulligan.
Leitrim recovered from that loss to Mayo to salvage something from last season as they secured their first qualifier win.
It, thus, gives them something to build on going into another year where victory over New York and the winners of Sligo and London would see them reach a Connacht final.
"We recovered well to beat Wicklow last year in the qualifiers and might have got past Laois too. But we're focusing on Connacht again this year. We're on the right side of the draw to get to a provincial final and that's what we have to aim for," said Mulligan.
