Paddy Bradley has warned that Derry will have a lot of work to do if they are to avoid the possibility of dropping down to Division Three of the Allianz Football League.
Derry narrowly missed out on promotion to Division One last year but successive defeats to Galway and Tyrone have left them sitting at the bottom of the table with zero points.
There is a long way to go before the promotion and relegation places are decided but Bradley admits that the Oak Leafers will be facing the latter if they do not improve in their upcoming matches.
"To be sitting with no points after two games is a bit of a worry. We know we have quality players and we shouldn't be fighting relegation but unless you do the hard work and prove it on a Sunday, that's the chance you take," Bradley is quoted as saying in the Irish Daily Mirror.
"There's a lot of work to be done between now and three weeks."
Bradley has only recently returned from a long lay-off with a cruciate knee ligament injury and the skipper is hopeful that the team, like him, will get stronger as the tournament progresses.
"At the end of the day it's still only February and we haven't done a lot of work and hopefully with more work we will get there," he added.
"Personally I feel a wee bit sharper but I'm looking forward to the next two weeks to get six or seven training sessions and get a game with the club.
"With all the individuals back from injury we will be a wee bit sharper for the next time out. We have to pick ourselves up. We have three weeks until the next game and no excuses."
Meanwhile, Bradley has been forced to defend his commitment to Derry after coming in for sharp criticism when he bemoaned the fact that he would miss out on the opportunity to go to New York because of the Oak Leafers schedule.
"Seems I annoyed a few derry fans last wk when I said I was pissed of missing a holiday to new york, who wouldn’t be. dont get many holidays" he tweeted.
"And the likelihood is that I’ll be out a substantial amount of money. did I ever mention regretting it. I chose to stay to play for derry.
"If anyone has any questions about my commitment to the team, come spend a week with me and see how I train and look at the time put in.
"For some, Not only are you not allowed a life as a county footballer but you are not entitled to have an opinion."