It's possibly a sign of the times that the pick of the weekend's games is not the meeting of the traditional aristocrats in Tralee (though make sure to watch live on RTÉ2) but the repeat of last summer's Ulster final in Ballybofey.
Kieran McGeeney and Jim McGuinness have a long history with one another, stretching back to their playing days. In the managerial arena, it all goes back to the Donegal-Kildare 2011 quarter-final, AKA the Kevin Cassidy game.
Last year's rollercoaster match in Clones - which on its own didn't suggest any major need for rule changes - ended the way other games had gone. With McGuinness getting one over his old foe and a dejected Geezer slouching down the tunnel after another sickening defeat.
But there was a major sting in the tale later that summer. Jim was in bad enough humour after Donegal's loss to Galway in the semi-final, realising that a major opportunity had slipped through their grasp. His mood would hardly have improved after watching McGeeney being chaired high on the sideline after the All-Ireland final.
Less than three months after Donegal's shootout win in Clones, Armagh had only gone and one-upped them. The bragging rights stolen from under their nose.
Both sides seem to be in rude health early on this season, at least on the evidence of round two.
Armagh's performance at home to Tyrone was like night and day compared to their limp showing in round one in Salthill. They looked to still be in the throes of the post-All-Ireland hangover out west but they shook that off fairly conclusively against their neighbours.
They really wore the mantle of All-Ireland champions well that night against Tyrone. They just exuded authority. Rory Grugan and Andrew Murnin were superb. Oisín Conaty covered every blade. Conor Turbitt was back in the team and swung over 0-04.
Donegal are two from two and have started the season at a brisk pace. The only caveat is they've no goals yet. This was a weakness they showed last year, aside from their first round blitz of Derry in Celtic Park. Goals were thin on the ground after that and they didn't get so much as a sniff of one in the semi-final against Galway.
On the flipside, they're stuffed with point-takers and long-range shooters, even if they've only mustered five two-point scores in the first two games.
Oddly enough, both managers seem to have had their grumbles about the rules, more so McGeeney.
I found his comments after the Tyrone game - that the new rules were just a fancy re-branding of rules that were already in place - pretty bizarre and confusing to be honest.
The stats around teams' retention of possession on their own kickouts in the opening two rounds - way down on last year - is proof enough that the kickout rule, to take just one example, is having a huge impact on the game and generating far more contests around the middle third.
My guess is that McGeeney's reaction is just a reflection of his dislike of the old school pundits - as opposed to us younger bucks! - who have been demanding change and pining for the old days for years and years.
McGuinness has sounded a more positive note on the rules, though he did warn about the toll it was taking on players in terms of endurance and the distances covered. I know he was recommending that more subs be allowed which is a reasonable enough idea.
We are in a trial period and these rules are not set in stone. We all have our issues with some of them. I sense there's a growing consensus that two-pointers should be restricted to scores from play.
At the risk of joining the goalkeepers' union list of public enemies, I think the 12v11 could create major problems. It will allow teams to stall and cradle possession even more when the need arises.
As for who will win the latest face-off between Geezer and Jim, I have an inkling it will be a draw but I suspect that won't satisfy the readers.
Forced to choose, and notwithstanding Donegal's formidable record up in Ballybofey, I'm going to lean towards Armagh.
Turning our gaze to the second tier, last year's relegated sides meet in the Hyde in a game which is looking like it might well be a dress rehearsal for the Division 2 final.
The prognosis on Monaghan seemed gloomy at the beginning of the year but they've racked up cricket scores in their first two games. Not a bad start to the post-McManus era. I'd like to credit my old mate Andy Moran, in as a selector and coach with Gabriel Bannigan, for their forward play so far - 4-49 in two games is nothing to be sneezed at..
While I got a name for trolling the Rossies last season - not without reason possibly - it has to be said they have massive depth in the forwards. Even more so with Ciaran Murtagh returning to the fold for this season, joining the likes of Daire Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh, Ben O'Carroll, etc. As I've often said, we'd love a couple of those guys in Mayo.
The issue for Roscommon is further back the field. Their defence has been at times catastrophic in the last couple of years. I wouldn't expect that to catch up with them in the spring. You can get away with it in Division 2.
Regardless of those defensive frailties, with home advantage, I'll give the Rossies the nod.
Hopefully, no one in action is too out of pocket this week. The GPA announced yesterday that players were incurring an average net expense loss of €4,602 annually to play at inter-county level.
The union are there to lobby on behalf of the playing body, though I must admit I haven't detected massive disenchantment or outrage among players over this issue. But then that could be just a reflection of my own experience.
I suspect the issue could be more acute among players at Division 3 and Division 4 level. They're the guys who probably need to be looked after more.
In my view, the players at the top level are well looked after, in terms of sponsored cars, sponsored media gigs, flexible working arrangements.
Also, the GPA's objection to Friday night games after the inter-provincial games back in October made no sense to me, whatsoever. I reckon if you asked players would you rather a game on a Friday night and then have the rest of the weekend to recover, I'd say 99% would be in favour.
You don't want to see players out of pocket, but from my perspective I don't hear much crying about it.
Watch Kerry v Dublin in the Allianz Football League on Saturday from 7.20pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch Allianz League Sunday from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates around the country on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
