Macauley is expected to play a deeper role between midfield and the half-forward line as the defending champions look to contain the Royals' young and ambitious engine room.

Dubs boss Pat Gilroy has made one other personnel change, bringing Cian O'Sullivan in for Ger Brennan in the half-backs. Kevin Nolan shifts across to the centre back berth.

This weekend's clash will be the 60th Championship meeting between these arch rivals, stretching back to 1894 when they met for the first time in a game that finished level (0-4 each).

This will be their first meeting in the Leinster final since 2001 when Dublin won by 2-11 to 0-14.

The last meeting between the counties in the Championship was in 2010 when Meath hit Dublin for 5-9 in the Leinster semi-final.

Reflecting on that defeat from two years when he himself was held scoreless, Dublin's Alan Brogan said: "I think it was a freak result. In fairness, some of the Meath forwards are very talented - the likes of Joe Sheridan and Cian Ward.

"But some of the goals that they scored, even though they got through on us, were serious finishes.

"Maybe we panicked a bit and let them in a bit easy. But I'd like to think we've come on a bit since then and something like that wouldn't happen us again."

The current Footballer of the Year added: "Kildare were the favourites (in their recent semi-final against Meath) and on paper it looked like Kildare should win, but Meath are a different beast in the Championship.

"They always have been, no matter what their league form was like. They showed that against Kildare."

DUBLIN (SFC v Meath): Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Rory O'Carroll, Philly McMahon; James McCarthy, Kevin Nolan, Cian O'Sullivan; Eamon Fennell, Denis Bastick; Paul Flynn, Alan Brogan, Bryan Cullen (capt); Bernard Brogan, Michael Darragh Macauley, Kevin McManamon.