Former Dublin inter-county forward Mossy Quinn believes the mental challenge will be one the biggest tests for Jim Gavin's men in 2017.
The Dubs go into this year targeting a three in a row and open up their Leinster Championship campaign against Carlow on Saturday at O'Moore Park.
Speaking to Off The Ball, Quinn and Billy Joe Padden previewed the weekend's inter-county football action and the former gave his take on the challenges for his former team in remaining sharp.
"A lot of it ties into physical preparation. I don't think when it gets down to physical preparation that there is a huge difference between the Dublins, Kerrys, Mayos and Tyrones," said Quinn.
It's the mental freshness I think is going to be the biggest challenge from this year and that's why they have taken a different approach by going away later.
"I know, again, the League Final was on the 9th of April and they collectively had four or five weeks of time off there as a group which is a huge amount and this is going into a Championship.
"I would imagine from a mental perspective it's 'let them go away, let them go back to the clubs, get them a couple of rounds in, give the lads a bit of a break, a bit of a holiday' and to come back in.
"When they come back in now, it's going to be a very tight window between effectively mid-May and however far they go and they're obviously hoping that's going to be the end of September. I would say the mental freshness is a big part, a big challenge for Dublin and that's why throwing a few of the younger lads in now there's an enthusiasm and there's that rawness."
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