The latter is something which selector Brian Talty says the team will strive for over the course of the upcoming league. "We showed well at certain points last year but lacked consistency", he says. "There were some great first-half displays but then we tended to die off. It happened against Laois in the Leinster final, for example. This time round we don't want one brilliant 20-minute spell and then fade away. We should be able to lift our game when the opposition lifts theirs."

What better place to start, then, than against All Ireland champions Tyrone in Omagh. It's a re-run of last August's shining battle, the All Ireland quarter-final clash that could have stretched the Leinster champion's season into late autumn.

Through all of last year, Dublin yielded to just three counties: Tyrone in the league and championship and Cork and Kerry away from home in the league. It adds kindling to the notion that Dublin are a team on the up and cracking those nuisance inconsistencies becomes all the more important.

"We were near enough last season and showed that against Tyrone in the championship, especially in the first half of the drawn quarter-final. But again, they came out in the second half and began to gel really well.

And the rest is history."

Dublin have five new names on the team sheet for today's opener and part of the exercise is providing a platform from which to stake a regular championship place. With goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton unavailable for the trip to Tyrone, Paul Copeland is handed his debut while there are also starts for corner-back Niall O'Shea, midfielder Denis Bastick and forwards Derek Murray and Kevin Bonner. Last season the league allowed Dublin unleash Stephen O'Shaughnessy on the football fields of Ireland and Talty believes more could follow his lead.

"Like other counties at this time of year, we have fellows carrying injuries, more lads recovering. But this team has been selected on form and merit. The three games in the O'Byrne Cup were of great benefit.

"A few fellas showed well in those games and they're getting the chance to play at the next level. Just like last year we won't be afraid to give players a decent run in the league and hopefully this will also lead to consistent performances."

Despite some criticism from Dublin supporters last year, there are long-term rewards to be gained from persevering with untried talent, says Talty. With four or five league outings comes an opening to impress. It's an opportunity some will take, others won't.

"If it turns out that a player doesn't make the starting 15 for the championship then so be it. He'll still have the experience of having played tough, competitive intercounty games and that's important for Croke Park when the management is looking to bring players off the bench."

Testing visits to Pairc Ui Rinn and Austin Stack Park beckon later on the fixture list and with these in mind victory over Tyrone would provide a cushion of sorts and an early scalp. But with nine of last year's All Irelandwinning team set to start in Omagh, Talty and the rest of the management team are facing up to the hard reality of today's task.

That Tyrone put an end to their 2005 campaign will not be lost on them though it's unlikely Dublin will need added incentive. Talty, who achieved league honours with his native Galway in 1981, expects nothing less than a fully-committed performance from both counties today.

"It's going to be a difficult and physical game. Have no doubts about that. Last year's games against Tyrone are done and dusted, forgotten about. It's all about Sunday now, nothing else and we're well prepared. We have to be. There's always the perception that the All Ireland champions will be going through a lull on their first game back but you can forget about that with Tyrone.

"They've already shown in the McKenna Cup that they're back to their best, they're flying. They're hungry again."

DIVISION 1A TYRONE v DUBLIN Omagh, 2.30 Live, TG4, 2.15 Referee P Russell (Tipperary)