MANY of the problems that beset defending All Ireland champions spring from misjudged attempts to replicate the previous year's methodology. So it may be to Dublin's advantage that there is an entirely new management team in charge. Maybe.

Tomorrow's Bank of Ireland Leinster football championship game against Westmeath gives Mickey Whelan and his team an ideal opportunity to ease into their title defence and put into practice the differing emphases of the new regime.

Given that Dublin's League campaign was - predictably - as mediocre as it was, there's little indication what sort of a challenge the reigning champions will mount but certain elements of the approach are plain.

The team selection isn't that surprising in one sense. The restoration of the prodigals, Eamonn Heery, Niall Guiden and Joe McNally, has been on the cards for a long time.

This recruitment strategy awaits the ultimate judgment of the summer. Heery's virtues as a wing back are undeniable and had he not opted out of the panel, he would quite probably have been closely involved in last September's success.

Ironically in an environment where uninhibited half back play is to be encouraged, Heery's return is reassuring. During the disappointing 1992 final, he was the most defensively aware of the well hyped Dublin half back line. His physical presence is solid and his commitment has always been ferocious.

Other defensive arrangements are more open to question. Mick Deegan is probably relieved to be in the team, given the long term certainty that Heery was going to supplant him on the left wing of the defence. Deegan, however, will also remember with a shudder some of his previous experiences at corner back.

An All Star at right corner in 1991, largely on the basis of Dublin's successful league, his more expansive instincts led to some harrowing moments, particularly in the 1992 All Ireland final. This caused a radical rethink among Dublin's then mentors about the advisability of using half backs in the full back line which in turn was the genesis of the highly effective Ciaran Walsh Dermot Deasy Paddy Moran line up.

Deegan's experience and pace will help him to acclimatise but when serious challenges start to emerge, fingers will be crossed.

Replacing Deasy at full back was always going to be difficult. His perception, poise and vision were vital to Dublin's defence and his absence from last year's All Ireland final was felt to a far greater extent than was generally mentioned in the aftermath of the very narrow victory.

David Martin has impressed, intermittently, as Deasy's successor and has potential but is an unknown quantity at championship level.

Up front, judgment on Guiden's return must also be suspended. At his best, five years ago, he was an immensely promising arrival. His performance in the final match of the Dublin Meath series showed a new forward who could kick points off either foot.

His failure to fulfil that promise was in some cases due to external factors but by the time he was dropped from last year's panel, there was a strong sense of talent not being fully exploited.

McNally's positioning at full forward is another matter. At chat should have been his peak, in the late 1980s, McNally was part of a generation that lost its away when faced with the implacable challenge of Meath. One respected football observer from the area said during the week: "Meath will be happy, enough to see him back anyway.

It is natural that people will be sceptical about how, in his 30s and still overweight, McNally has improved. Tomorrow will be a good test. Westmeath's John O'Brien is a fine full back whose display on Tommy Dowd in the (National League semi final two years ago proved his credentials. If McNally plays well he will have weakened the sceptics case a fair bit. If.

Whelan said during the week that Jason Sherlock might well make an appearance and that would mirror his introduction to last year's championship when he came on in the first half of the first round match against Louth.

Barney Rock's Westmeath have endured a depressing year in Division Two, culminating in relegation, though they started the season with a win over Down. Rock's capacity to bite the bullet is seen in the dropping of the normally prolific but currently out of sorts Ger Heavin.

They have presence down the middle with Spike Fagan, Tom Ormsby and Jacko Cooney all strong experienced players. The problem is that Dublin have too many strengths in the middle - in Paul Bealin and Brian Stynes - and in too many other areas to leave themselves open to the unthinkable.

The ifs and maybes can wait for another day.