SINCE the draw was made for this year's Leinster Championship this has been the fixture everyone has been looking forward to. For the two teams, and all of their supporters, the thought of this match will have have loomed large for much of the last six months. For them Sunday afternoon will be a tense time but, for the rest of us neutrals, the meeting of these two old rivals has the potential to be one of the most intriguing contests of the summer.

This year's clash has been made all the more interesting by the manner in which Meath shocked the AllIreland champions last July. At the time there was considerable confidence in the Dublin camp that they could mount a strong challenge in defence of their title - to be beaten by an untried and unknown Meath side was an unexpected setback.

The result, and the way it came about, gave rise to considerable unease in the Dublin camp and Mickey Whelan was criticised for the way he had prepared his team, while several prominent players also came under fire for the way in which they performed.

That Dublin lost to Meath seemed bad enough to the county's supporters, but the fact that so many of the team appeared to be unfit and playing without the spirit or determination they displayed through the summer of 1995 dismayed many. For the proud players of the Dublin team it was a bitter lesson which they will want to put right this weekend.

Most of the team that lost that game 11 months ago will have the opportunity to redeem themselves tomorrow at Croke Park. With the exception of the full back line, this is pretty much the same Dublin team that lost by two points in last year's Leinster final and the memory of that game should ensure they play with all the passion they lacked that day.

The Meath camp were probably a little surprised that they came through that game and must have been taken aback as a group of players, who seemed a wonderful prospect for the future, went on to win the All Ireland title.

Fortunately the younger players, who had come into the Meath side, had already enjoyed the experience of winning at both minor and under 21 levels and they had been inculcated with the Meath philosophy of playing hard, but fair, and never saying die. They also, it seemed, quickly acquired the temperament to withstand the pressures of the big days in Croke Park, an asset that will stand to them again this weekend.

The best thing one could say about the youngsters, though, is that they fitted anonymously into the team. Watching this Meath team as they progressed through the championship last year there was no perceptible difference between the performances of young players such as Trevor Giles or Mark O'Reilly and their more experienced teammates like Tommy Dowd and Colm Coyle.

IF LAST year was anything to go by, those younger players will help build this team into a formidable unit. The side's strategy of creating acres of space is a nightmare for opposing defences. All six forwards are quick and they use their speed intelligently to create room for those around them.

The industry of Graham Geraghty and Giles, in particular, is important to the team with the pair often dropping back to help their defence.

This helps ensure that Meath are at their most, dangerous when the opposition attack breaks down, countering with quick balls delivered to open spaces up front with Giles and Geraghty often sweeping forward "to support the play when required.

How the new Dublin full back line copes with being stretched all over the field will have a major bearing on the outcome on tomorrows contest.

It will be a huge test for Ian Robertson and Paddy Christie and the pair can not expect much help from their half back colleagues, who will be otherwise occupied trying to curtail what is arguably Meath's strongest line of Geraghty, Dowd and Giles.

For Dublin to have a realistic chance they will have to do well at midfield. John McDermott looks to be the player in form and the role of captaincy could help him to reach new heights.

Brian Stynes and Paul Bealin have had some good days in Croke Park, but they will have to gel together this time out if they are even to hold their own with McDermott and Jimmy McGuinness.

Up front, meanwhile, the Dublin forwards rely on Dessie Farrell going well to be most effective. He was well short of his best form last season but now, in his most effective position of centre forward, he should be dangerous for he is well capable of giving an incisive pass and is a very accurate pointscorer from play.

If there is an Achilles heel in this Meath team it is their back lines. Newcomers Donal Curtis and Nigel Nestor on the left flank are untried at this level, while Coyle is still holding down the wing back position on the right hand side.

In the centre, Mayo didn't really pressure Enda McManus in last season's AllIreland final and I would expect Farrell to do well on him tomorrow.

Darren Fay was, however, probably the rookie of the year last season and he will still be growing in confidence ahead of this summer's campaign. The major question is whether Dublin, with experienced forwards like Charlie Redmond, Paul Clarke, Gavin and Farrell, as well as a little magic from Jason Sherlock thrown in, can break down what, on paper at least, looks to be a vulnerable defensive unit.

Overall, I hope tomorrow fulfills its potential and produces a classic encounter, reasonably free from tension and early man to man confrontations.

It would be wonderful if it was played within the spirit of the game with no off the ball incidents or cynical fouling. In those circumstances it is often the person who retaliates who is sent to the line, thus leaving a sense of injustice hanging over the entire proceedings.

As for the result, I have to go for Meath. With their stronger midfield, I feel their attack, which is accurate and full of guile, will carry the day in what should be a close and entertaining encounter. If they do that they will draw considerable confidence, from the victory and should prove a very difficult team to beat in the future.