It was a 50/50 call but Fermanagh captain, Declan McCusker, had a feeling it would be Antrim pulled out in the draw to come to Brewster Park for the quarter-final of the Tailteann Cup.

With Laois and Wicklow coming from the same group as the Ernemen to reach the quarter-finals it was between Limerick and the Saffron County as to who would face Fermanagh.

But now that it is confirmed, the only thing left to do is beat them and continue their quest for silverware.

The sides are familiar with each other. 

Having come face to face with each other earlier this year in the Dr. McKenna Cup and twice last year in the National League and group stages of the Tailteann Cup.

The latter game was a tough one to take for Fermanagh as they were beaten 3-13 to 1-12.

But McCusker does not believe that scars of that match will have a bearing on Saturday's fixture.

Fermanagh know enough about Antrim's threats to make sure there is no repeat.

"We went in last year to win the group," the Fermanagh captain said.

"It was nearly seen as a 50/50 game and they tanked us. So it was a hard one to take and it probably fed into us losing the Laois game the following week because it was such a bad defeat.

"We didn’t pick ourselves up the following week and the next thing you are out.

"Last year is not going to have any bearing on this year's game.

"We've been trying to get ourselves right. It's a bit of a cliché I suppose but we know them well enough and we know the threats they have. We need to tie up a few things ourselves."

Looking at the Antrim threats, McCusker jokes about the amount of goals full forward Ruairi McCann scores.

"I have never seen a full forward score so many goals. A serious poacher, always in there, always in the right positions. He's obviously a threat and they can fire it in long to him. But I still think most of their game is built on counterattacking at pace."

This pace will come from the likes of Marc Jordan and McCusker felt he was one player that caused Fermanagh bother in previous meetings.

But he is confident Fermanagh are in a good place going into the game.

Victories over Wicklow, Carlow and Laois showed different styles to Fermanagh's play and an ability to grind out wins as well as rack up big scores.

"The Wicklow game, in fairness they were missing a lot of key players, but it was great that we actually put them away because we don’t normally do that. We put a big score up.

"The Carlow and Laois games ended up having to grind out results. In neither game would we have been delighted with our performances but we still got the wins which was important. But we definitely have a lot to improve on for the Antrim game."

Key to Fermanagh's victory has been their strength in depth. Players introduced off the bench have made telling impacts in all games in the Tailteann Cup so far. And McCusker is keen for it to continue.

"It’s the way football is now. The bench is massive and that is something we have had this year; a serious bench.

"The last couple of games we've had Conor Love coming on, Darragh McGurn coming on, Ronan McCaffrey. Aidan Breen before he picked up the knock but he's back training. Diarmuid [King] came on the last day.

"You do turn to the bench so it is definitely a benefit as any of the boys can come on.

"I do think we carry a serious threat on our bench. If and when they are needed they are going to be a boost."

All the pieces will need to come together on Saturday for Fermanagh if they are to reach the Tailteann Cup semi-final.

And McCusker had made it clear, it's his and the squad's ambition to win the competition outright: "I have made no secret of it we are in it to win it.

"And if we are going to win the Tailteann Cup we have to beat Antrim at home, so that’s the plan."