There are no changes from the side that started against Wexford in the Offaly team to face reigning champions Kilkenny in Sunday's Leinster hurling final at Croke Park. However, manager Pat Fleury has left a vacancy at wing back in the hope that Kevin Martin will recover from the hamstring injury sustained early in the semi-final against Wexford.

The expected return of John Troy, however, has again been postponed. He was troubled by a finger injury in the run-up to the Wexford game but made an appearance in the second half. He recently sustained an ankle injury and as a result has failed to make the starting line-up.

Otherwise the team keeps its familiar shape. Niall Claffey, who made his championship debut against Wexford, remains at corner back.

Brendan Murphy, who also made his debut in the last outing, remains at wing forward and that means that the team shows just four changes from that which fell to Kilkenny last year. Absent are Martin Hanamy, John Ryan, Billy Dooley and John Troy - and in comes Claffey, Gary Hannify, Murphy and Joe Errity.

Sunday's game is the fourth championship meeting between the sides in the last three years - three Leinster finals and the All-Ireland final of 1998. Of their three meetings in the 1998 and 1999 championship, Kilkenny won two and lost one - which happened to be the All-Ireland final of two years ago when Offaly came through the back door to win the McCarthy Cup.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has postponed the naming of his team until late this evening due to a number of injury worries.