Dessie Dolan says that Tyrone haven't shown form in 2023 that suggests they can beat Kerry in Saturday's All-Ireland quarter-final, but that the quality is there to cause a surprise.
The sides last met in championship two years ago when their Covid-delayed All-Ireland semi-final went the way of the Ulster men after extra-time.
That year the men from the Kingdom had smashed six goals past the Red Hand in the Allianz League final, but this year the league meeting - a three-point win for Tyrone at Omagh - has been referenced this week as a potential sign that the 2021 All-Ireland champions aren't too far off the mark.
Since then, they've lost to Monaghan and Galway, drawn with Westmeath, and beaten Armagh and Donegal.
Speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast Dessie Dolan, the manager of the Lake County which nearly knocked them out in the group stages earlier this month, argued that Tyrone have the players to get a result against Kerry.
"Two years ago they were All-Ireland champions. They have pedigree all over the team so you know their quality," he said.
"Powerful midfield, very experienced and great man-markers as well. They have lads that can pick up the likes of a [David] Clifford. [Michael] McKernan's an exceptional player. They've [Pádraig] Hampsey there, who's tough, and [Ronan] McNamee - players who can nullify the the threats.
"We've seen the emergence of Darragh Canavan this year. Ruairí is there as well, but Darragh just has the 'x-factor.' He's been around a little longer, in terms of development, but his confidence has grown at inter-county level and he's a very dangerous player.
"He's so good at getting on the ball, aware of the threat, and then his ability to kick points off left or right is incredible. It's freakish for me because I played with Peter at the compromise rules and he's such a clone of Peter, it's incredible! They're actually really nice lads as well, which makes it worse. They have that Peter charm.
"Peter is very charismatic, very witty, and even my defenders after were saying the two lads were lovely even though they were marking them!"
Reflecting on Kerry, Dolan added: "Kerry lads could always have answers for every team in the country.
"The Tyrone lads, in the early noughties, totally ambushed them and were bullying them around Croke Park. The scars of that run deep with the Kerry lads because the physicality that was brought about that day probably changed the way Kerry prepared their teams for the next 10 or 15 years.
"They knew they had to get into the gym, get physical and match that kind of intensity.
"In fairness to the Tyrone lads I do believe their confidence is good [but] there is something. I feel that since they won the All-Ireland [in 2021] they've dropped down a gear.
"Beating Donegal given everything that happened there - I don't think Donegal had the best year - I don't know where they're at but they're very capable."
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