The sweeping authority with which Meath disposed of a solid looking Offaly unit in the Leinster semi-final has elevated them to major contenders, not just for tomorrow's provincial title, but for the entire pot.

Such expectations rest easily enough with Meath at this stage but the widely discussed back injury to Tommy Dowd is a setback of inestimable proportions. Dublin, perhaps unfairly, seem to attract more doubters the further they advance in this championship but it must be acknowledged that they have reached this plateau while still on a fairly steep learning curve.

Five players have been introduced to the side which lost to Kildare in last year's championship by a point and Tom Carr has totally reconstructed the half back line (which last year read Harrington, Barr and Curran). He has illustrated his faith in new blood, hence the lack of surprise when Peadar Andrews was given his first championship start this weekend.

Andrews earned the opportunity by subduing Stephen Kelly in the replay against Laois when he came in for Tomas Lynch, who had an unhappy 20 minutes in defence. Still, the necessary tampering has given this current Dublin side a novice look.

Only in the latter stages of the league did Brian Stynes manage to convince Carr that midfield was his rightful home and he and Ciaran Whelan combine to produce an axis loaded with athleticism and willingness but still fledgling in terms of understanding and experience, which may take its toll when they match up against John McDermott and Nigel Crawford.

It is the Dublin forward lines which read most familiarly but if anything, these lines have come to symbolise Dublin's tendency towards massive fluctuations in form. Ian Robertson, the converted defender, has been the brightest light in the attack.

Even though Meath show six changes from the team which also lost to Kildare at this stage last year, Sean Boylan has just relocated all the usual suspects. As ever, their indomitability is founded on their defence. They have a forbiddingly miserly full back line (the Offaly trio of Peter Brady, Roy Malone and Vinnie Claffey failed to score from play in the previous match) and the uncompromising Enda McManus moves into centre half to face Dessie Farrell, the chief playmaker in Dublin's attacking game.

While Trevor Giles has yet to tap into the masterly heights at which he operated before his layoff through injury, he remains one of the most intuitive players in the game and both he and John McDermott link well with Meath's two pacy wing backs, Hank Traynor and Paddy Reynolds.

When Meath were at their most rampant against Offaly, Tommy Dowd and Ollie Murphy were the catylsts, with the former coming deep to collect ball as well as kicking scores himself. It will be interesting to see if Evan Kelly can replicate that movement and link with Murphy. Also, Graham Geraghty's contribution - he was kept under wraps for most of the afternoon by Barry Malone against Offaly but still created the games defining moment, setting up Ollie Murphy for the goal which buckled their opponents - will be of consequence.

Down through the lines, Meath would appear to have the solidity and experience to undo a Dublin team which has wavered between the impressive and the downright brittle.

But an indefatigable spirit has sustained them and they aren't short on really selfless grafters such as Jim Gavin, Enda Sheehy and Jonathan McGee. Their potential to come through this hinges on Brian Stynes's ability to seize control as he did in the vital minutes against Laois, on Ian Robertson managing to sneak scores off Darren Fay and on the full-back line holding firm under what will be constant pressure.

What they cannot afford to do is allow themselves to collapse as they did in the drawn game against Laois and again for 15 minutes in the replay. If it is close at the finish, they have the stomach to force an unlikely passage into the semi-finals.

But it is difficult not to see Meath holding the cards in the dying minutes. They won't stroll this but have that blend of muscle and skill which has carried them through campaigns like this before. This will be a typical dogfight and one which will shape this Dublin team for future days. But Meath ought to come out smiling.