Former Donegal forward Brendan Devenney feels Dublin and Derry are the teams with the clearest blueprints in place as the Allianz Football League reaches its conclusion and thoughts of the All-Ireland and provincial championships intensify.
In Division 1, the penultimate round of games saw Derry stay top with five wins from six after a 3-15 to 2-13 victory over Mayo in Castlebar, with Dublin two points adrift after overcoming Galway by 0-22 to 0-14 in Salthill.
While teams may not be showing their full hands at this stage of the year, Devenney told RTÉ's Game On that Derry and Dublin appear to have a clear edge on the pack of likely contenders.
"I really think all the well-organised teams with deep squads, it's suiting them in terms of you can see it that they're flexing their muscles as the season goes on," he said.
"Dublin, after a poor start - Monaghan's only victory - they have really turned the corner,"
"I tipped Derry from the get-go and I think even from the weekend, Derry hitting 3-15, 24 points, Dublin hitting 22 points, they are way out in front in terms of their points difference over anybody else in the league.
"So by far in Division 1, they have been the two that have been setting the standard."
Also speaking on the show, former Mayo and Wicklow footballer Austin O'Malley added that both sides appeared the best balanced so far.
"I'd agree with Brendan. Derry and Dublin just where their game is at at the moment you can see in terms of their scoring power but also defensively, they just look so, so solid," he said.
"Looking at Dublin at the weekend, with the way they dispatched Galway, they were so clinical, crisp and clean in everything they did.
"You're probably looking at eight of their [potential] championship starting team [didn't start]. And they're still holding Galway at bay there.
"Derry were just so economical and impressive against Mayo - Mayo conceding 3-15 at home which would be a worry - they're just so clear in terms of their approach defensively and up front with what they're at.
"So I think Brendan is right, they're far and away ahead of where everybody else is at the moment."
Devenney also backed Tyrone great and RTÉ football analyst Peter Canavan's view that the league finals could be done away with in future to benefit the integrity of the competition.
"I think because it's a shorter league the way it's played, there was a thing about a league final and [having] a big day but with championship on the horizon, who really wants it?" he said.
"I think whoever's at the top, if it's score difference or whatever way it is, everybody would be happy enough to say they're the champions and let it go because we don't really need that extra day.
"Now some people might say for some of those sides that maybe the provincials aren't as strong, they wouldn't mind a game but again, I don't think anyone is overly worried about a league final showpiece.
"I think for Armagh and Donegal, there's probably something in there that they would like a good, tight game going into championship but really I think whoever is top of the league, that's what a league is supposed to be, you're at the top, you win it and I think that's how it should go."
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