KILKENNY will start at least five championship debutants in Sunday's Leinster championship meeting with Wexford at Croke Park.
DJ Carey, over whom the threat of injury-forced withdrawal hovers, is named at left wing forward but will take a fitness test on Friday evening.
Of the five newcomers, right comer-forward Charlie Carter has played championship before but never started a match. He, corner-back John Costelloe and wing back Philip Larkin, were all regulars during the League. Aidan Lawlor, at midfield, and centre forward Brian Ryan are, however, surprises.
Lawlor, of the St Martin's club, made his first inter-county appearance in unusual circumstances a couple of years ago when, having travelled to Callan to see his brother Dermot play for the county against Wexford in the Oireachtas tournament, ended up playing because Kilkenny were short players.
Ryan first played for Kilkenny under the management of Dermot Healy, six years ago, but suffered a dreadful leg injury and has only recently re-entered inter-county contention. In the past month or so, he has been a regular feature of the Kilkenny lineup in challenge matches.
Carey, according to one observer, enjoyed a "leisurely run-out" but wasn't prepared to speculate on his chances of playing at the weekend.
Wexford, hit by the injuries to League regulars John O'Connor and Tom Dempsey, have named a side with one championship debutant, full-forward Gary Laffan. The defence is reshuffled to cover for the loss of O'Connor at fullback, with Ger Cush dropping back, Liam Dunne moving to centre back and Larry O'Gorman coming in at wing back.
Eamonn Scanlan replaces Dempsey at left corner-forward and veteran George O'Connor comes in for Tom Kehoe, from the team that lost to Galway in last month's League semi-final.
Leinster champions Offaly make two changes from last year's All-Ireland final team, for Sunday's match with Meath. The surprise is the selection of Liam Coughlan in goal ahead of David Hughes. Coughlan, a brother of Offaly All-Ireland medallist Eugene, has been in excellent form with his club Seir Kieran.
The other change sees Birr fullback Joe Errity come in at full-forward, a position in which he was tried several times during League and where he demonstrated a notable goal-scoring aptitude.
Meath keep faith with the starting 15 which defeated Westmeath last week. Paddy Kelly, the regular full back who arrived back from holidays last Saturday, remains on the bench and may be, introduced if needed.
The Bank Holiday weekend will see the Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta football tournament between Gaeltacht teams staged, in Baile Mhuirne in the Muskerry Gaeltacht of West Cork. A number of well-known inter-county players will be participating including Kerry seniors Dara O Cinneide and Dara O Se of the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht team, holders of the title.
Other top players include Cork's John O'Driscoll (Baile Atha'n Ghaorthaidh), Galway's Sean Og de Paor and Mayo's Anthony Finnerty (An Ceathru Rua). The tournament will be extensively covered by Radio na Gaeltachta on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The Munster Council are anxious to emphasise that Sunday's first-round hurling championship tie between Waterford and Tipperary at Walsh Park Waterford is an all-ticket match and that there will be no admittance to the grounds without a ticket.
The Ulster football championship match between Derry and Armagh at Celtic Park is also an all-ticket match.
