MOST Louth Gaels would happily settle for survival in the NFL Division 2 this year - especially if Meath end up being relegated! - but rookie full back David Collier feels the Wee County should set loftier goals.

The 22-year-old St Fechin's defender could be set to make his National League debut against Westmeath in Haggardstown next Sunday, and if the Reds manage to eke out a win, then it might just give them the confidence needed to go on and cause a couple of upsets in the remaining games.

'We had a few meetings and realistically we want to go for a win against Westmeath first of all, and then it's game by game after that,' said Collier as he looked ahead to the weekend's joust with the other county promoted from Division 3.

'But we have no intention of just settling for staying in Division 2 because there's a few other games we can definitely win, we're capable of competing against the big teams and we'd be looking to get into the top half of the table.

'Westmeath have a team in the All-ireland Club Championship and are going fairly well, but we have a good record against them and have beaten them the last three times, so hopefully we can get the win and take a bit of momentum into the Galway game.

'We played in Haggardstown against Down and the pitch was very heavy, but hopefully it'll be a bit better for the Westmeath game.

'It's a good surface and a good size, and apart from losing a championship final I have a decent record there.'

However, Collier believes that Louth will have to show a marked improvement from their only competitive game to date in 2012 - the six-point O'byrne Cup defeat at the hands of Meath - if they are to compete at the higher level in the NFL.

'It's been tough enough since the Meath game,' he acknowledged.' We realised we were not at the pace yet and all agreed that we had to step it up a bit in intensity, so we've been going flat-out.

'The trraining is a bit of a commitment when it's three times a week and you might have games on Saturday and Sunday, and I miss the club football a little bit, but I'm the type of player who does enjoy it.

'At the start I knew who the lads were but not on a personal level, and a lot of the older ones have been helpful in talking and offering advice.'

It seems at this early stage that newcomer Collier has hit the ground running - he started the Meath game and the challenges against Down and Carlow IT, coming on as a sub against Crossmaglen - all the more impressive because he hadn't previously represented his county for seven years.

However, after barely a month with the panel he's not convinced he's done enough to warrant a starting place for Sunday.

'Over Christmas myself and Ronan Holcroft were asked to go for training - he had been going for a few weeks already - and it was good to get the call,' Collier said.

'A few people had said I would get in, but I was not expecting it all. They had a few injuries to Aaron Hoey and Declan Byrne and I think they needed a defender in.

'Peter had a big panel over Christmas and has to reduce it down to 30 this week, so it would be good to get a chance.

'I'm not in there yet and I'm not going to say I should be in the starting team, but if I play on Sunday I have to go in thinking that I have to prove myself and it could be my only chance.

'Hopefully I'll get a chance to play and then maybe hold down my place. It would be nice to make a few appearances, get a bit stronger and bring a few ideas back to the club and help them out.

'But it would be hard following in Aaron Hoey's footsteps. People like him are happy to see a few young lads involved and it's good to get a bit of guidance from him, but he's still around and if he's 100% fit he will still be able to play a bit of football.'

Whether or not he plays, Collier is just delighted to have the opportunity to pull on the red jersey, something that might not have happened if St Fechin's hadn't enjoyed such huge success in 2011, or if he hadn't decided to hang up his hurley.

'I played for Louth at Under-14 and Under-15, but hadn't been with them since. Maybe I was a bit small, but I grew a bit after Minor.

'I was playing the hurling and Gaelic until a couple of years ago when the football started to get a bit serious and I decided to stick to it, which probably helped too.

'And if the Fechin's hadn't done so well since then, no one would have seen us play. We had a great year last time and there's a few young lads and lads from the Under-21s this year, so the future looks bright for the Fechin's.'

- MARCUS CAVAROLI