There is no team that has undergone a greater transition in four short months than Saturday's hosts to the Daggers at Meadow Lane - Notts County writes Phil Ravitz.

The League's oldest football club - formed in 1888- finished last season as a total after-thought in 19^th position near the foot of the League 2 table. The previous campaign they had done even poorer, finishing one place lower in 20^th.

But then, almost out of the blue came the huge cash injection of the Arab based Munto Finance that has transformed Notts almost into a different league.

That isn't strictly true. They are still in League 2, but the mass injection of money and the appointment of former England and Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson as director of football, has catapulted Notts to title and promotion favourites following being almost permanent also-rans.

"The Championship in five years, the Premiership in 10", is now the Notts mantra as they opened the new League 2 campaign with a crushing 5-0 victory over the side previously regarded as the leading 'big boy' of League 2, Bradford City, 5-0 at Meadow Lane.

That was followed by a 4-0 success in the less halcyon surroundings of Macclesfield's Moss Rose.

But the Magpies suffered a minor blip at the hands of East Midlands rivals Chesterfield on Wednesday night. The Spireites, with some money to spend themselves these season under new boss John Sheridan, were straight at County from the kick-off and secured a 2-1 victory thanks to two penalties - the second of which was disputed by the Nottingham contingent - before a late goal by recalled defender Mike Edwards halved the deficit.

Edwards was one of just three players in the side from last season. Ten new signings have been made, the highest profile of whom are Kasper Schmeiel, clearly attracted to Meadow League by the presence of his former boss Erikkson and ex-West Bromwich and Coventry striker Lee Hughes, who scored a hat-trick on his debut, following his release from Oldham.

Director of Football Eriksson's role is to indentify and capture marquee signings for Notts' push into the big time, assisted by his long-time associate and former England number two, Tord Grip.

He has spoken to his former midfielder at City, Dietmar Hamman about a player-coach's role with the Magpies, but the much capped German has said no.

This week alone, players of the stature of Luis Figo and Pavel Neved have been mentioned as targets, although the club and local media have been quick to dismiss such fanciful notions.

More realistic captures have been former Hereford and Shrewsbury skipper Ben Davies, who is proving a really shrewd signing even this early on in the campaign, while Notts' interest in Portsmouth wide player Matt Ritchie, who spent a year here at Dagenham & Redbridge and scored twice in the 3-0 demolition of the Midlanders at Notts County as recently as April, is far from over.

Notts team boss Ian McParland is a close friend of Portsmouth manager Paul Hart, from their time together on the coaching staff of neighbours Nottingham Forest. He also made one appearance for the Daggers in their Conference relegation season in 1995/6.

Closing the gap on cross-the-road neighbours Forest is the first target and with Forest hardly impressing in the Championship, Notts make no secret of their 'Promotion or burst' target for this season.

All of which makes tomorrow's game the match of the day in League 2.

Daggers will almost certainly keep the same side that took Shrewsbury apart on Tuesday, having no fresh injury worries.

The really good news from the Daggers camp is that Anwar Uddin completed his first week back in full training, after five months out with groin and knee problems and is raring to get back to full match fitness.

Likely line-ups: Notts County: Hoult, Moloney, Edwards, Thompson, Ravenhill, Westcarr, Davies, Hunt, Jackson, Hughes, Rodgers, Hamshaw, Clapham, Pilkington, Canham, Fairclough, Facey.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Roberts, Doe, Antwi, Arber, Griffiths, Green, Taiwo, Thurgood, Gain, Benson, Scott, Thomas, Uddin, Ogogo, Mongtomgery, Lewington, Bentley, Bingham.

Referee Mr Nigel Miller (County Durham).