All reviews of the league past are dominated by the spring measures taken to curb the threat of foot-and-mouth. Some squads can now admit that the break was fortuitous, others still lament the month without activity. For the footballers of Wexford, it made their winter preparation a washout. They ended having played only five games and never got to line out against Down, one of the strongest sides in the division.

"It was unfortunate for the younger squad players who never really got the opportunity to show their form," points out team manager Ger Halligan.

"We know the potential is there but we needed to see them in competitive situations. So from that point of view, we achieved nothing. We had a couple of wins and started very well against Kildare in our final match but maybe squandered a few opportunities there as well."

So Halligan awaits this Sunday's championship opener against Laois secure in the knowledge that Wexford have ample training behind them but are still a bit game shy.

Although they were eliminated in the early stages of the Leinster championship last year, it marked the high point of Wexford's championship experiences for many years. Having emerged through the round-robin series, they went on to face Dublin in Croke Park. It felt like a proper championship tie, in summer, with cameras and not some early May sideshow that more often than not left them with no football until the following autumn.

"And we were soundly beaten by Dublin - they were a stronger team - but we still regarded it as a valuable exercise. Teams like ourselves need to be playing opposition like Dublin regularly. Encountering teams of similar ability means you remain at that level. And we also had four championship games, which brought its own momentum and promoted interest in the county."

This year, Halligan knows his side is guaranteed at least two championship days but he is determined that the players should not be conscious of the new system acting as a safety net.

"I remember when the round robin idea was introduced saying that I was not sure it was the answer. But against that, the knockout system had clearly gotten the better of Wexford for the last 50 years. So it is good to be rid of the pressures that the knockout system brought, the knowledge that all the months are riding on one afternoon and that if you perform below par or even suffer a bit of bad luck, that's it.

"It was unforgiving. But we will also be approaching Sunday as a must-win game because it brings the obvious reward of a return to Croke Park.

But it is difficult to judge Laois's current level. Although their league results were poor, they are a little deceiving.

"If you were to judge the teams solely on our respective league positions, then it could be argued that we are near par. But Laois went to Navan and beat Meath at the tail-end of the league, which is never an easy feat and I think they beat Kerry in a challenge game shortly after that.

Halligan knows that Wexford's journey towards the middle ground will be painstakingly slow. At the moment, they have potential, one of those counties capable of causing the occasional upset. With Mattie Forde, who stung Kildare for 1-6 last time out, unavailable for the next game because of a knee injury, Wexford's attacking options have been reduced. And despite having had limited hours in which to showcase them, Halligan has opted for four championship newcomers. It will be a stiff task but there is no sense of hopelessness.

"Our job right now is to incorporate a sense of belief in the players and to ensure that it runs deep enough so that they can call upon it during the difficult stages of the match. That is often the difference between the top-tier sides and counties like ourselves. If you show weakness, they capitalise on it and punish it and before you know it you are gone. And to reach the point where you are in a position to do the same to teams requires a lot of frustration and patience.

"But we are making those steps and there is satisfaction in being involved with that. Winning on Sunday would represent a big step in that evolution."