Last time Mayo faced Dublin at Croke Park, it was a knockout blow which brought an abrupt end to a long dominance of the All-Ireland Football Championship.
Since that semi-final loss, Dessie Farrell's side have followed that up with two defeats in a row against Armagh and Kerry in the Allianz League and Mayo will be motivated to extend that downturn on Saturday in round three.
Speaking on RTÉ's Game On, former Mayo footballer Austin O'Malley believes James Horan's team sense an opportunity to deliver a hammer blow against the Dubs.
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"It's a huge game for Dublin. We probably can't remember the last time Dublin lost three games on the bounce so they really need to come and really be at this from the get-go and you've Mayo coming up the N4 really smelling blood and knowing they're a little bit on their knees and looking for that knockout punch," he said, adding that the "lack of strength in depth is probably what's catching" Dublin out presently.
"So from a Dublin perspective, I think it's key to get a good start and try and build a little bit of confidence and momentum.
"They have been out of sorts definitely in the last two games and they've looked disjointed in a lot of different areas. Particularly at the back they've been leaking heavy as well and have been pulled all over the place.
"Just an absence of leadership across the field you would say. Dessie obviously has a big job on his hands. He's trying to bed in new talent and it takes time and doesn't happen overnight and from the perspective of trying to get some of their other big players back and up to speed again.
"Still you wouldn't discount the fact that they could come and turn Mayo over particularly given the context of how Mayo took them out last year, it's all building really nicely towards the weekend."
Ex-Sligo footballer Neil Ewing cited Mayo being able to welcome Oisín Mullin back to the fold as an extra plus but also reckons even an out-of-sorts Dublin can only be dismissed at one's peril.
"That little bit of perception is building around Dublin. There was that aura of invincibility which has now shattered," he said.
"Mayo will definitely be heading up the N4 with a bit more optimism than they probably have in this game in recent years, especially they have Oisín Mullin back in, that's going to be a huge boost and is going to give them a big lift.
"But I don't think the Dubs are going to fear getting back into Croke Park. Over the last few seasons, we've seen Mayo go up to Croke Park for this league game and it's probably fizzled out on many of those occasions into a bit of a nothing affair with Dublin pulling away.
"The big thing for Dublin is going to be the XV that take the field. We've seen the game down in Tralee. They have named the team with some of their big names back in. When the ball was thrown in, those guys weren't on the pitch so it's going to be very interesting to see what Dublin XV are on the Croke Park pitch when it's thrown in at 7.30pm tomorrow evening."
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