Going into the latter stages of competitions, players, management and supporters can sometimes begin to look a bit too far ahead.

Dreams of final and lifting trophies begin to swirl around the imagination. Celebration plans spoke about in hushed tones.

For Enniskillen Rangers manager,  Mickey Kerr, this is certainly not the case.

For just like it has been all season, the Mulhern Cup semi-final against Tummery Athletic is the only thing on his and his team's radar. 

And it only was on their radar after their Mercer League game against Lisbellaw United over a week ago.

"People keep thinking that you are saying it. It is simply one game at a time so once we finished with Lisblleaw last week the league was completely forgotten about.

"You know the situations you are in, you are still in contention for certain competitions but nothing is won yet. We could easily end up empty-handed so we will not be looking too far ahead.

"Look the game on Thursday night we will prepare at our session but we will not be looking any further than the Mulhern Cup semi-final and whenever the next games come around they will take priority but right now the sole focus is simply the Mulhern Cup semi-final."

Standing in the way is the familiar claret and blue of Tummery Athletic.

The teams last met in the Irish Junior Cup semi-final, with Rangers winning 3-1.

Kerr admitted he was surprised to see four goals in that game and will be even more surprised if there are as many goals in Thursday evening's game.

"I'd be very surprised if there are another four goals in this game. I said after that game it's very rare you would have as many goals in those games. I find they are usually quite cagey, usually quite tight."

If there are goals, Kerr will be hoping his side are the ones scoring them. They have been quite prolific in front of goal this season and will have a full squad to pick from bar Mark Cutler who is injured as well as suspended for the tie.

"If you don’t take your chances, you don’t win these games. I said to the boys all year the hardest thing to do is put the ball in the net.

"If we can get a performance and if we can create good chances I'd like to think that the lads will step up to the plate and take them.

And Kerr is confident in his squad and whatever 11 he puts out: "We've been quite good and flexible in our formations and players lately with a bit of chopping and changing.

"People might think it's inconsistent in your team but I think it's worked a hell of a lot better for us because we are bringing fresh players in."

But whoever plays on Thursday for Rangers, Kerr will have it drilled into them that there is no looking further than the 90 minutes in front of them: "Semi-finals, it's easy to say they don’t come around too often but they don’t so we want to go one step further than where we went last year. 

"We want to progress and go hopefully one step further and win the semi-final whether that is in 90 minutes or extra time or penalties and it's something we have put a big focus on.

"It's not a case that we simply want to win the cup, we want to win the semi-final and hopefully be able to prepare for a final after that," Kerr concluded.