Down and Kerry pose the most potent threats

When he was appointed manager of the Meath hurlers last September Johnny Greville wasted little time in getting stuck into the challenges involved. He could be seen out and about at local games, observing, taking notes, assessing players.

He invited 100 players into a training camp - 60 responded and answered their county's call. The fact that 40 or so said 'no thanks' suggests that for a sizeable number, giving the commitment necessary to turn out for the county is not high on their agenda. Others, for one reason or another, simply couldn't commit.

The important aspect from Greville's and Meath's perspective is that a sizeable majority said "yes I'll be there." Straight away he had a group of people who were willing to put in the hard yards required to make their presence felt in their restructured NHL Div 2 campaign - and making their presence felt WILL be difficult. No doubt.

Thirty six of that 60 or so have been selected for the NHL panel while the rest make up a "development" panel who will train with the main squad and perhaps be called upon to wear the green and gold should the need arise during the course of the season.

In the NHL Meath find themselves in a group along with familiar foes Kerry, Down, Derry, Donegal, Tyrone and Kildare. When all the games are played the two top teams will go into a final and be promoted while the two bottom teams will be relegated.

Greville has been preparing his troops for the hard road ahead by organising a series of challenge games with Antrim, Carlow and Dublin among the sides who were lined up. Normally at this time of the year Meath would be engaged with the Kehoe Cup. However the pre-season competitions have been scrapped.

That's not necessarily a bad thing because it gives the Meath players a chance to play against teams who are a step or two above sides usually found at Kehoe Cup level. Sides, like Antrim, who they played recently and who are as eager as the Royal County management team to give their front-line players a run out ahead of the start of the league. With a tighter schedule every run out for every team matters.

In the league Meath can harbour realistic hopes of recording victories over Derry, Donegal, Tyrone and Kildare. Last year an early victory over Kildare in NHL Div 2A was one of the few highlights for the team as they suffered relegation in both the league and the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Two years ago they defeated Tyrone, 2-17 to 0-8, on their way to winning Div 2B. They also conquered Donegal in the 2B final that year, 0-20 to 0-14 at Carrick-on-Shannon.

Derry, especially with the Slaughtneil contingent, will certainly pose problems, but Greville's men should have enough to see them past that obstacle even if the game is in Owenbeg.

It's against Kerry and Down where the Royals are most likely to find the need to be sharp in side-stepping problems. They will be helped by the fact that the Mourne County have to travel to Trim but a trip down to Tralee beckons in early March. In that picturesque town Meath teams have experienced very little joy over the years.

Greville wants to go into the league with his players looking to change their styles during the course of a game, depending on the nature of the challenge that faces them.

If they feel that a short-passing game suits any given situation he wants them to play like that. If it's felt a long-ball approach might yield greater rewards that too can be employed. How well Meath adapt to various tests will define their campaign.

Meath squad is a mixture of the tried and tested such as Sean Geraghty, James Kelly, James Toher and the ever diligent Mickey Burke. A string of younger players has also been included. Missing will be players such as James Murray (studying in Sligo) and Charlie Ennis (travelling).

Greville's men need to be be consistent if they are to secure one of the top two spots. Despite the undoubted quality in the squad they might just fall short of doing that with Kerry and Down most likely to progress. Still, to see how it all shakes out should provide plenty of intrigue.