Kilkenny have made two changes to the team which defeated Laois in the last series of the NHL, for their trip to Waterford on Sunday. Goalkeeper Martin Carey is in Florida on honeymoon and his place in goal goes to James McGarry. Last year's regular 'keeper Joe Dermody is still struggling with a shoulder injury sustained against Tipperary at the start of the season.
The other change may not come to pass as the left corner back's position has been left vacant pending Philip Larkin's return from the US. He is due back on Friday and manager Brian Cody intends to leave it up to the player himself to decide if he is fit to play in a re-run of last August's All-Ireland semifinal.
Meanwhile the GAA has announced that it has received the internal go-ahead to proceed with the work required for Phase Three of the Croke Park re-development. The permission from Central Council means that work is now awaiting only a decision from An Bord Pleanala on whether the development of Hill 16 can be put back until Phase Four.
Phase Two, the Canal End, is well advanced and two tiers of the stand should be completed by this year's All-Ireland. If planning permission is forthcoming, the demolition of Aras Daimhin - the GAA's administrative offices - will begin early in the summer.
The cost of the planned development will be nearly £100 million and Central Council has granted permission for extensive borrowing.
KILKENNY (SH v Waterford) - J McGarry; J Butler, J Costelloe, AN Other; M Kavanagh, E Kennedy, P Barry; A Comerford, T Murphy; DJ Carey, J Hoyne, B McEvoy; K O'Shea, H Shefflin, C Carter.
LAOIS (SH v Cork) - R Cashin; PJ Peacock, B Maher, S Dooley; N Rigney, P Cuddy, A Bergin; O Dowling, D Conroy; D Cuddy, AN Other, C Cuddy; F O'Sullivan, M Rooney, N Lacey.
WATERFORD (U21 FC v Kerry) - J Cusack; G Cullinane, J Sheehan, N Thompson; B Power, D Lyons, S Veale; V O'Shea, S Prendergast; E Doherty, P Matthews, C Keane; N Curran, G Hurney, G Power. Subs: P Hayes, J Barry, J Coffey, M Walsh, P Power, D Murphy, C Hennessy, J Phelan, M Supple.
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