"This is a very stiff challenge for Meath because if there is a team in the country that knows about the 'back door' - Galway have won an All-Ireland by going through the qualifiers," he said.

"They have some brilliant forwards. Michael Meehan is back again and he is a serious threat. People might underestimate Galway because of last weekend but we certainly won't be doing that.

"We all know that Galway on their day can be one of the best footballing teams in the country. It's a difficult draw and one of the higher profile ones, but I would prefer a game where there is an awful lot at stake and there is an awful lot at stake here. It's a game we can really look forward to."

'Banty' will be without the services of centre-back Bryan Menton for the Navan clash. He had his broken wrist put in a cast on Monday, but full-back Kevin Reilly and forwards Stephen Bray and Graham Geraghty should be available.

Geraghty missed the win over Louth with an Achilles injury and is due to return to training this week. McEnaney remains convinced that bringing the 38-year-old former All-Ireland winning captain out of inter-county retirement is in the best interests of Meath football.

Hailing Geraghty's footballing ability and his influence on the current panel, he said: "There's one thing I'll say about Graham Geraghty - I'll say it hand on heart and some people might not like this - in my eyes, he is the best footballer Meath have ever produced.

"There's no doubt I'm absolutely satisfied with the decision to bring Graham back. He's an absolutely positive influence on the panel.

"He's very, very good with the young lads. He has a lot to offer to this Meath set-up, not just this year but for a couple of more years."

Geraghty made his return to Championship football after a three-year absence in the Royals' controversial Leinster quarter-final defeat to Kildare. During his short spell on the pitch he had a goal disallowed, and McEnaney agrees that if Meath are to maintain their All-Ireland challenge, game-time will be crucial for the veteran attacker.

"I've been watching Graham Geraghty, I've had fellas watching Graham Geraghty to see what sort of form he was showing at club level because, for me, class is permanent, form is temporary.

"I suppose you have to go with form along with class but he has that, he proved it a few weeks ago against Kildare. Unfortunately, he would have got more game-time against Kildare only Brian Farrell was sent-off.

"I was disappointed for Graham that he wasn't fit to come in against Louth. I would have loved to give him more game-time because I believe there is more than 15 or 20 minutes in him."

McEnaney was speaking at the launch of Transport Gaels 125th Anniversary of Gaelic Games in Irish Transport at Croke Park.

After a disappointing league campaign and the agony of the loss to Kildare, he admitted to feeling relieved when his side cut loose and beat Louth by three clear goals.

"I think there were a lot of good things about the performance against Louth. The things I would have been disappointed with would be the missed opportunities but, in general, it was a decent performance from where we're coming from," he added.

"There was an element of relief for everyone in the dressing room, myself included. This group of players have been working seriously hard, they're very committed, their application is top class, their discipline is top class.

"Everything you would want from a group of inter-county players, these lads have been doing it.

"Unfortunately it has not been transforming into performances. The only thing I would say about that is when they really needed a performance against Tyrone to stay in Division 2, they did it and when they really needed it last weekend - Saturday night was a huge night for Meath people, for the general public in Meath, for the management and the County Board, and to be fair to the lads they put in a performance and they got a result on the night.

"A lot of elements I wouldn't be happy with, some of the scores we conceded and certainly some of the ones we missed. Only to score eight points wouldn't be good enough, but thankfully it was good enough for that night. But, yes it was a relief."