IT doesn't take a trained eye or the technological gadgets hidden in the Sky Sports studios to see that Malachy O'Rourke has scrapped his Monaghan blueprint in favour of something a bit more radical for 2015.
After their opening two League games - a win over Tyrone and a one-point defeat to Cork - it's hard to tell what area of the field the Farney county players will settle in next, such is their refusal to play the conventional position their jersey number suggests.
One man who will surely benefit from this more dynamic style of play is chief marksman Conor McManus.
"Tactical changes will be a huge benefit to us because we'll be harder to play against but for the next wee while, until we get our heads around it, we won't really know what we are doing either," laughed McManus.
"But I suppose that's the way the game has gone. Players can't just be pigeon-holed into one position and you have to be adaptable. It's all about mobility and movement."
Since Monaghan and Mayo teams last met in the 2011 National League, the Connacht champions have embarked on a journey that has seen them reach two All-Ireland finals as well as two titanic displays in the last four.
In their artillery, they have some of the most accomplished players and direct runners in Gaelic football.
Corner-forwards shrink when the speedy Keith Higgins heads their direction, while Lee Keegan, Donal Vaughan, Kevin McLoughlin and the O'Shea brothers - Aidan and Seamus - are all renowned for their powerful runs off the shoulder.
With every ball arrowed towards Ballintubber ace Cillian O'Connor, they are a force to be reckoned with.
Yet they are beatable - particularly against northern opposition. Given how Mayo struggled against Tyrone's defensive system three weeks ago, McManus agrees that Monaghan will still show signs of that tried and tested defensive approach when they travel to Castlebar tomorrow.
However, Monaghan will need to be more clinical if they are to see off Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly's men.
"Teams have to be ready for these defensive systems because that's the way it's gone," said McManus.
"Even the last day against Cork, in the last 10 minutes we had a lot of ball and they played defensively and stifled us. We lost by a point and we need to work on that."
There will always be teething problems with a new system and O'Rourke has had three weeks to work on the finer details ahead of tomorrow's clash.
One Monaghan man who has failed to win his race against time is newly-converted half-forward Darren Hughes. The Scotstown man missed the Cork game and hasn't been able to shake off the injury during the three-week break.
Ulster minor winner Ryan McAnespie is revelling in his game-time at half-forward while corner-forward Daniel McKenna and midfielder Neil McAdam will be assets to Monaghan when the provincial Championship comes around.
Vinny Corey and Hughes, meanwhile, lie in wait on a strong Farney bench.
Mayo's line-up is also littered with talent and four Allstar winners but 2013 minor panellists Stephen Coen and Patrick Durcan will play centre-back and left half-back respectively - an area where Monaghan's Kieran Hughes and Stephen Gollogly can cause damage.
Mayo corner-forward Mark Ronaldson has yet to be tested at this level while Allstar midfielder Aidan O'Shea seems to offer a lot less shoehorned into the number 11 shirt.
This is a game that could go either way and it could be Monaghan's ability to supply and support McManus that secures their second League win of the season.
TEAMS
Mayo: R Hennelly; T Cunniffe, K Keane, K Higgins; L Keegan, S Coen, P Durcan; D Vaughan, S O'Shea; K McLoughlin,
A O'Shea, D O'Connor; M Ronaldson,
C O'Connor, J Doherty
Monaghan: R Beggan; C Boyle, D Wylie,
R Wylie; D Mone, F Kelly, K Duffy;
N McAdam, P Finlay; K Hughes, S Gollogly, R McAnespie; D Malone, D McKenna,
C McManus