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Ulster county team bosses are playing a waiting game as negotiations continue in a bid to solve the impasse between the Gaelic Players Association and the GAA in relation to the payment of the €5m grant money from the Republic's government to inter-county players.
And while some bosses like Tyrone's Mickey Harte have nailed their colours firmly to the mast in terms of how they will be approaching what is a thorny issue, there is confusion in other counties.
In Down, it would now appear that reports suggesting that the county football squad took a vote not to support the threatened GPA strike were wide of the mark.
GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell has revealed that he has received assurances from members of the Association within the county and indeed from manager Ross Carr that the Mourne county squad had not resolved to withdraw their services.
Quite a number of Down players are members of the GPA and indeed some had previously made positive noises about the strike.
There was more than a touch of irony in relation to the Down 'vote' reports given that it would have been taken at precisely the same time that Tyrone manager Mickey Harte was emphasising his firm stance on the GPA strike call.
Harte made it quite clear at the Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup launch at the Armagh City Hotel that he would definitely be fielding a team in the competition "irrespective of what happens."
Harte made the pointed remark that he would be fielding "the best team I have available on any given day."
Other county managers are now carefully monitoring the situation, privately anxious that a resolution to the problem should be found before the Dr McKenna Cup competition begins in January.
Should the strike become a reality, then this might open the door for hitherto fringe players in various counties to grab their chance of first-team selection.
But Harte acknowledges that experienced players provide the core of any team.
"For my part, I will be hoping to have the core of my side available and will then try and introduce some new faces. This competition offers this opportunity and you would want to avail of it," added Harte.
