  We measure the low lying eigenmodes of an overlap Dirac operator on 2--flavor
staggered configurations. By comparing the eigenmode distribution to the
predictions of Random Matrix Theory we test to what accuracy staggered
configurations describe continuum QCD. The agreement between the numerical data
and RMT implies that at our quark mass values the lattice artifacts of the
staggered configurations are comparable to overlap configurations. We identify
the overlap valence mass that best matches the staggered sea quarks and predict
the value of the infinite volume 2-flavor chiral condensate.
