By the time Dublin take to the field at Healy Park on Sunday afternoon, their position in Division One could be even more precarious.
Should Kildare defeat Armagh at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday evening, Tyrone will have the opportunity to send the Dubs packing and relegate Dessie Farrell’s men to Division Two for next season.
However, Tyrone have their own safety to consider after picking up just three points from their opening four games.
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The All-Ireland champions edged out Kildare in their last home game, but slipped to a 2-10 to 0-12 defeat to Donegal in Ballybofey at the end of February.
Yet, former Tyrone star Stephen O’Neill reckons the Red Hands ought to return to winning ways this weekend.
“I think this is going to be a really tough battle. Dublin are in a period of transition and they are trying to blood new players,” said O’Neill.
“I hope the experience that the Tyrone lads have will see them through. I’d be confident that Tyrone can get one over on them.
“The Tyrone players won’t be thinking about that (Dublin being relegated). They’ll just want to get two points on the board towards their own safety and that will be the first thought in their head.”
Tyrone and Dublin have played out some memorable and some infamous games down through the years.
O’Neill was part of the Tyrone squad who lost out to Dublin in the 2006 League meeting in Healy Park - dubbed the ‘Battle of Omagh’.
Indeed, the-then Footballer of the Year was one of four players sent off by referee Paddy Russell for a second booking with Collie Holmes also dismissed along with Dublin duo Alan Brogan and Denis Bastick.
Some 16 years on, O’Neill still protests his innocence adding: “I don’t think I did anything badly wrong that day!
“I don’t know if Tyrone were the aggressors, but we stood up for ourselves that day.”
O’Neill now is part of Enda McGinley’s management team with Antrim and the Saffrons are very much in the hunt for promotion to Division Two after a solid start to the season.
Antrim host Longford at Corrigan Park on Saturday knowing a win would guarantee their position in Division Three at the very least.
The fixtures have been kind for the Tyrone legend with Antrim playing the majority of their games on Saturday while his native county have played three of their four games thus far on Sundays.
Despite their erratic form this season, the three-time All-Star has seen enough to believe that Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher’s men aren’t that far off the pace.
“It was always going to be a tough season for Tyrone, coming back from their All-Ireland win and with the lateness of their holiday,” added O’Neill.
“Maybe it has taken them a bit longer to get up to speed.
“I’ve been to a few of their games and they’ve played well in patches. If they can carry that on and get more consistency over the 70 minutes or so, they’ll be in a good place.
“They’d have been disappointed with their first half performance in Ballybofey and they conceded two goals which gave Donegal that bit of a lift.
“I’m looking forward to this weekend and, hopefully, Tyrone can learn from those mistakes.
“Playing against Dublin, there’ll be no complacency when you are playing against a team of that quality.”
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