For the first time since 2002, Dublin will face the reigning champions in the Leinster SFC this weekend.
Eoin Murchan was only five back then, when a Dublin side managed by Tommy Lyons beat Meath at Croke Park on their way to a first provincial title in seven years.
Dublin - unconvincing winners against Wicklow last time out, and fresh off relegation from Division 1 - have also been installed as underdogs for this Saturday's Portlaoise summit with Louth.
They haven't gone into a game in Leinster as underdogs since that tie against Meath 24 years ago either.
All of which amounts to a hill of beans for experienced Dublin defender Murchan.
"It's not really something I'd be overly concerned with, or cast my eye over," he said at the launch of Staycity Aparthotels' GAAfternoon Tea experience.
"The goal for us as a group is to get a performance come the weekend and to continue to improve on performances. I don't really pay much heed to commentary outside of the group, to be honest with you.
"We have a goal, a way we want to play and to perform, and how we want to be as a group. Those goals still remain the same and we're still chasing that. I'd say it's not about being an underdog, it's more about facing a very strong team at the weekend and just looking to that challenge.
"You always want to be playing the best and to be testing yourself against the best."
The good news, according to Murchan, is that Dublin should be at full strength, or very close to it, for the Louth summit.
Captain Con O'Callaghan started their two-point win over Wicklow in Aughrim but didn't return for the second half in what seemed a precautionary measure having battled a hamstring injury. Former All-Star Colm Basquel also came off feeling "a little bit tight" while experienced defender Murchan himself left the field looking dazed after a sideline collision with a county board official.
Asked about O'Callaghan and Basquel in particular, Murchan gave a positive report ahead of this weekend.
"Yeah, all good, all getting ready for the weekend," he said. "Hoping to be fit. Sorry, all are fit and ready to rock, so we should have a full complement come the weekend."
Selector Dean Rock is standing in as Dublin's manager for the duration of the 12-week suspension incurred by Ger Brennan. Rock stated after the narrow win over Wicklow that Ciarán Kilkenny, Ross McGarry, Lee Gannon and Theo Clancy were close to returning also. Again, Murchan was upbeat regarding their chances.
"We've probably had a challenge with injuries throughout the year," said the five-time All-Ireland winner.
"We probably haven't got our full hand together but the beauty of the Championship is that injuries seem to recover that little bit faster. I think we're looking forward to having a full complement for the weekend and hopefully a lot of those guys will be able to put a hand up and show what they're capable of."
Murchan brought vital experience to a Dublin defence against Wicklow that contained three players making their Championship debuts. But his day ended after 60 minutes following the collision. The man who replaced him, debutant Liam Smith, was subsequently sent off, meaning he won't make the Louth game.
"I just banged into someone but I'm grand," said the Na Fianna man, who went to ground along with an official. "I believe he's the treasurer, or the assistant treasurer. I came off second best anyway to him. Both of us are alright now, so we're good to go."
Eight-time Leinster medallist Murchan feels that Dublin are in a good place generally and that things are trending upwards for the group.
"I don't think we're a million miles off," he said. "I think the results, especially the results from last weekend, have shown that you can't afford to be off it at all. On any day, you can put a performance together and get a win.
"I 100% think we can turn things around. Not that anything has been going drastically bad. I think this is just the way football is, it's elite level competition.
"You're not going to get any easy games any more unfortunately. We're still excited for the challenge and looking forward to the weekend and hopefully putting a performance together."
