Six is the magic number for Mickey Harte's Derry

NFL Division One – Round Three Derry v Monaghan   |   Saturday, Celtic Park, 5pm   |   Referee: TBC

Derry couldn’t have wished for a better return to the top flight, backing up their McKenna Cup success with wins over Kerry and Tyrone.

Six points is often the magic number for safety and Mickey Harte’s side have a chance to make that step on Saturday.

With the new, elongated, All-Ireland Championship series, cementing their league place would be a welcome early season boost and allow for experimentation.

The Oakleafers face a tough task this weekend in the shape of a Monaghan team who had a goal threat in their win over Dublin at Croke Park.

While Vinny Corey is short many of his regulars, Monaghan have again shown why they are one of the top teams in the country.

Sean Jones and David Garland have enjoyed underage promise. Stephen Mooney and Stephen O’Hanlon bring both scores and pace. Just ask the Dubs.

They also gave Kerry plenty to think about until the Clifford brothers - David and Paudie – entered the fray to pull them clear.

In Killian Lavelle, they had a defender who put then clampers on Con O’Callaghan.

And, something that can never be forgotten, only Kerry have been in Division One longer. They may have needed to hang tough on occasions, but Monaghan have proven themselves as a top side.

Derry are no mugs either. Rory Gallagher’s flooding of players forwards – with genuine width – has been adopted by the new management.

Harte has brought in Cormac Murphy to the side. It’s his pace and dancing feet that leave him a tricky opponent.

Murphy’s emergence has left teams with the puzzle of not being able to put all their eggs in the “stop Shane McGuigan” basket.

Ethan Doherty’s incisive runs were again evident against Tyrone and Niall Loughlin has had an excellent season so far, while also being a leading light in Ulster University’s Sigerson campaign.

Hamstring injuries to Odhrán Lynch and Gareth McKinless will force Derry into changes this weekend.

Ryan Scullion is a highly rated goalkeeper who will not have an opportunity to put himself in the shop window.

In the absence of Gareth McKinless, Derry have other options. It was Ciaran McFaul who dropped back into the centre back role against Tyrone.

That’s one possibility. Another is leaving him up top with Paudi McGrogan going to centre back. It would leave a slot for Donncha Gilmore to get another run.

Eunan Mulholland had a calf problem during the latter end of Glen’s run. He could be an option for a fist senior appearance or Marty Bradley could be handed a league debut after missing out during the McKenna Cup with injury.

The fact the Derry have been operating without Eoin McEvoy says more about their depth.

Diarmuid Baker, having never played at any level before Derry, was handed a starting jersey in the opening game of the season.

Coming up against players like Oisin Brady, Andrew Gilmore, Jamie Brennan Micheál Burns and Ruairi Canavan has improved his stock. And he has the energy to offer an option as an overlapping defender.

Derry have trips to Galway and Mayo to come later in the campaign. It gives a taste of how pitting themselves against the top teams in the county will help their development.

Five years ago, Derry beat London to leave them on four points at the top of Division Four after two games. They needed a late, late, Padraig Cassidy point to clinch a narrow win over Antrim in Corrigan Park. Now, they are in the top flight.

For Derry to progress, they need to walk in the shoes of Saturday’s opponents Monaghan. It’s about staying in the top flight.

The last time the sides met, Monaghan bossed Derry around Celtic Park last summer in the All-Ireland Championship series. In a topsy turvy ending, Derry pushed a head only for Karl O’Connell to earn a draw.

It’s hard to see much between the sides on Saturday with home advantage possibly the factor to help Derry shade it.