National Hurling League Previews(3.0 unless stated)

Saturday

Division 1A

Antrim v Clare, Casement Park, 1.30 - Where have all the banner names gone? Ger Loughnane drew up an adventurous teamsheet this week, with the St Joseph's lads awaiting next Friday's club final and a number of regulars suffering from seasonal gripes. There is a Lohan at full back, but today the jersey will be filled by Frank. Enda Flannery pops up at wing back. Fergus Flynn, back after a summer in maroon, partners Ronan O'Hara at midfield.

Antrim are zero-for-two and could use a win in Casement Park. As ever, they have skill and appetite enough to draw smoke from the bigger guns, but they need to start closing deals at this time of year. Limerick visited and were presented with a gift in the dying minutes. Offaly cruised by them. Although a few stalwarts like Ollie Cunning and Greg O'Kane remain, Antrim are consciously trying to put distance between themselves and last year's All-Ireland quarter-final whipping. A home win would at least kickstart a feel-good factor. Clare, though, have never been in the business of acting as obliging pushovers.

Verdict: Clare.

SUNDAY

Division 1A

Limerick v Offaly, Gaelic Grounds - Both these teams, Limerick in particular, are in the midst of considerable rebuilding processes. Hence, both conceded hefty scores in their early league wins over Antrim, with Offaly stung for 2-11 and Limerick for 3-11.

Brian Whelahan has been placed on Offaly's injured list, while the rest of the Birr contingent have been put on ice. Pat Fluery's attempt to inject some fresh blood into a fine but journeyed team appears to be working. Even in the defeat against Galway, his team were very competitive. Conor Gath is shaping up as a natural scorer and the defence, even without all the familiar lynchpins, has a solid look.

This is Limerick's first real test and Eamonn Cregan will be anxious to engineer league momentum as he prepares for summer. They must battle without the services of Ciaran Carey, while Adare's Tim Houlihan has been given his chance between the posts. Offaly may have the riches, but the feeling is that Limerick will hunger for this more.

Verdict: Limerick.

Galway v Dublin, Ballinasloe - There is no surer sign of spring than an irresistible looking Galway team. Even without the Athenry contingent, the westerners have been hurling with a familiar early league sprightliness. While in previous seasons their wakening flourishes were written off as a chimera, since last summer Galway have an attitude about them which suggests a new-found meanness. A run by them this year could only improve the championship as a spectacle, but if their intention is to prepare for that by qualifying for the play-off stages of the league, then they really ought to make sure they win the thing.

Dublin have been asking for some respect ever since they almost felled Wexford last summer and whipped up no mean score against Kerry (3-24) last weekend. Hence, this is a top-of-the-table clash and of massive psychological import to the city side. But Galway don't know how to lose at this time of year.

Verdict: Galway.

BYE: Kerry.

Division 1B

Cork v Laois, Pairc UI Chaoimh - You really do not want to be facing the All-Ireland champions days after your beleaguered manager quits. Padraig Horan, as expected, vacated his post this week in the wake of an unmerciful pummelling by Kilkenny a fortnight ago. Niall Rigney's ongoing absence has weakened the team in terms of morale as well as personnel and they are unlikely to gain any solace in this encounter.

Cork will be anxious to atone for their loss to Kilkenny. This is a team that marched to an All-Ireland on a streak and Jimmy Barry-Murphy will be anxious to keep firm distance between his charges and the habit of losing. Not that defeat is even a remote possibility for this game. Laois might have been relieved to hear that Sean McGrath and Ben O'Connor were being rested until it became apparent that Alan Browne and Kevin Murray would be filling the gaps.

Laois hurling, rudderless and troubled right now, could do without another roasting. Avoiding that is the best return they can hope for from this match.

Verdict: Cork.

Kilkenny v Waterford, Nowlan Park - This is a crucial year for both counties and one senses that they will each have pencilled in this match as one to test their worth. After unravelling a little last year, things appear to be coming together for Gerald McCarthy's team again. They were galvanised by their win over Wexford in atrocious circumstances and the talismanic Tony Browne is primed for a return. McCarthy has also dug up some viable and beefy alternatives, but it would seem he has yet to establish a definite full-back choice.

Brian Cody has also adopted a youth policy in Kilkenny, with DJ Carey still out and a number of summer regulars confined to the bench. With Paul Flynn flying and Dave Bennett also lively, the Kilkenny full-back trio face a busy afternoon. But they were up to it against Cork and a more crucial area of play concerns the ability - or otherwise - of the Kilkenny half line to contend with Waterford's formidable line-up of Frampton, Hartley and Flannery. If they begin to run riot, expect to see John Power. Kilkenny are still easing the hurt of last September and there is no better healer than winning games. They face a stubborn, worthy side, though.

Verdict: Kilkenny.

Wexford v Tipperary, Enniscorthy, 2.0 - The league champions began their campaign with a perfunctory stroll against Derry. Wexford have spent the fortnight pondering a tough-to-stomach loss against Waterford. There has been a sense of late that Wexford have been clambering around in the dark and they really need to sculpt some consistency to give them direction again. Hosting Tipp in Enniscorthy would be the perfect occasion on which to start.

But do they have the firepower? Gary Laffan, Rory McCarthy and Liam Dunne are still capable of illuminating any passage of play and Rob Hassey and Mitch Jordan make things happen. But they have been labouring as a team of late and have to unearth a little of the old dash to complement the toil. The absence of Martin Storey and Tom Demspey won't help. Tipp have the air of a team waiting for the soil to firm so they can redress old grievances. Tommy Dunne has trotted off to the forward lines to keep Paul Shelly company and Eddie Enright and Eugene O'Neill are at midfield. This is their first real hour of competitive hurling in a while. They will be keen to make the return a happy one.

Verdict: Tipperary.

BYE: Derry.

Division Two

Roscommon v London, Athleague, 1.0 - A fine opportunity for Roscommon to push themselves into the better half of the league table.

Westmeath v Wicklow, Castletowngeoghegan - Buoyed by their comfortable win over Carlow, Wicklow look set to continue their run.

Tyrone v Meath, Ballygawley - Could be a tough day out for the Ulster team as they host the league leaders.

Down v Armagh, Ballycran - Down could end up top of the table by the end of the day, as long as they don't slip up badly against their neighbours.

Carlow v Kildare, Dr Cullen Park - Kildare have the solidity to copperfasten their position at the top of the table against a Carlow side who are coming off a loss.

Division Three

Monaghan v Longford, Monaghan, 2.0 - Impressive though Longford looked against Fermanagh, Monaghan are the form team.

Sligo v Fermanagh, Enniscrone, 2.0 - Sligo to lift themselves after crashing against Leitrim.

Louth v Leitrim, Dundalk - Louth have ambitions of the better life in Division Two. This game won't dent their dreams any.

Donegal v Mayo, Ballybofey - A pairing which suggests a windswept day. Mayo have played two and lost both, Donegal played and lost one. Mayo to break the barren streak.

BYE: Cavan.