Kilkenny get chance to underline pecking order against Clare

Allianz Hurling League semi-final: Kilkenny v Clare, Semple Stadium, Sunday, 4pm (TG4)

The ring masters here are as big an attraction as what will actually happen in the ring. Sometimes league playoff games have a challenge match feel; other occasions seem to carry a weight beyond the immediate prize.

Kilkenny, pushing for a third All-Ireland in a row, are the measure: no question but that Clare will be up for this.

Davy Fitzgerald has added Donal Óg Cusack to his backroom team and this is a good opportunity for Kilkenny to underline the current pecking order.

Kilkenny rarely require added motivation for games but, just in case, Ger Loughnane's spicy reflections of all things black-and-amber have been duly noted. Tony Kelly is expected to start for Clare but Fitzgerald will wait until the last moment to make a decision on defender David McInerney and goal-getter Shane O'Donnell.

In the other camp, both Michael and Colin Fennelly are recuperating from hamstring injuries. Right on time, Eoin Larkin is back in training after a six-month tour of duty in Syria. It will be no real surprise if he just resumes his All-Ireland form.

A year ago, these two met in the Division 1A relegation game despite being the two most recent All-Ireland champions.

Davy Fitz took his team into Nowlan Park, watched them hit 1-17 in a scintillating display before falling to a late Cillian Buckley point. It symbolised what would happen to their championship summer. Kilkenny survived and then swept all before them.

A radical improvement on conversion rate is critical if Clare want to win the latest instalment.

It will be no surprise if this match reaches something close to championship temperatures and Kilkenny are best equipped to deal with that atmosphere just now. It will be fun – on both sides of the line.