By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

HIS side is well placed to push for promotion to the top flight, but Monaghan boss Seamus McEneaney insists that the aim for his side remains, for the time being, securing their Division Two status.

They travel to Dublin this weekend for their top of the table clash with Paul Caffrey's men knowing that a win would give them a healthy lead at the top of the table and reinforce their position as promotion contenders with three games left to play. The Monaghan boss however is still looking down the table and concentrating on staving off the threat of relegation... for now at least.

"It looks like one more point will guarantee our safety in the division and will make us safe from relegation. That was our aim from the start of the league, and it still remains our first priority. Once we get that extra point we can look at where we're at and see what our next target might be, but for now it's all about making sure we're safe."

Despite the manager's coy approach, and no matter how much he may attempt to play down the importance of this Sunday's clash, supporters and players alike will know that there's no such thing as a low-key clash with the Dubs. The boys in blue and navy have a certain aura about them, there's a hype surrounds them no matter the competition or time of year, and it would certainly be a morale-boosting scalp for Monaghan to take.

Monaghan were unhappy with the late cancellation of the game last Saturday night, the false-start left their panel and supporters hugely disappointed, and they are relishing the chance for a crack at the Dubs on Sunday.

"It's great to be playing Dublin, and it's great to be taking on Dublin with basically a full-strength Monaghan panel to pick from. For Monaghan to keep improving as a team they need to be playing the likes of Dublin, that's the sort of challenges they need. We were ready for the challenge last weekend, and come 2.30 on Sunday afternoon we'll be ready for the challenge again."

It's certainly a big game for Monaghan so early in the season, and one which the Ulster side are very much looking forward to, but McEneaney is keeping their feet firmly on the ground, and regardless of the result on Sunday they know that there will be bigger challenges ahead in 2008.

"It's against Dublin, it's in Parnell Park, it's a sell-out and we're looking forward to it. Maybe the media blows it up to be a bigger game than it is, but from my point of view as Monaghan manager it's a challenge where we can go and we can learn from it. Of course we're hoping that we get a result out of it, but at the end of the day it's not the end of the world either way. The games that count most are in the summer, long after the leagues have finished."