Some people might say that Kilkenny will run out easy winners here but I certainly don't think it's a foregone conclusion. You have a situation now where there is a fair share of new players in the Offaly team as well as Kilkenny and that makes it just as intriguing a contest as we've seen in recent years.

It is interesting to see that Kilkenny have brought back Willie O'Connor, John Power and Andy Comerford. It appears that Brian Cody wasn't satisfied with the performance against Dublin and I wouldn't be either.

Having missed the whole league, there is always the risk that O'Connor may be a bit rusty but he has a tremendous heart and has been there so many times before. In the modern game, 33 is old because of the speed of play but O'Connor has always proved that he is a master of his position at corner back.

Still, having watched Kilkenny against Dublin, I have to say that they do look the part. However, they are not the most perfectly balanced side. John Power only appeared late in the game and before that his influence was missed. He starts here but of course age catches up with all of us and I'd wonder as well if John is the player he was in the past.

As usual, Kilkenny will be trying to get Power to hold the ball and then play it off to players around him. He'll be marked by Brian Whelahan which is certainly going to be an interesting contest. Brian isn't the type of player that will be trying to use his weight. If John starts to run at him, Brian will back peddle and try to flick the ball of his hurley. He will try to beat him with skill and it will not be a physical contest as such.

For Offaly, I think Johnny Dooley is playing exceptionally well at midfield, better than I can ever remember. When one looks at the Offaly full forward line of Michael Duignan, Joe Errity and Joe Dooley you see a lot of experience, ability and indeed danger. I didn't think Joe Dooley played well the last day but he can always raise his game, especially when it comes to Kilkenny.

Their half forward line, however, is a lot more inexperienced. Gary Hannify is a big man and could cause problems for Eamon Kennedy. Then you have the remaining sprinkling of experience with Kevin Kinahan at full back, Brian Whelahan at centre back and Kevin Martin on the wing. But if Martin has a hamstring problem he is in trouble and I'd be surprised if he plays. If Shefflin catches the ball above Whelahan's head then the full back line is in trouble.

We also have Kinahan renewing his rivalry with DJ. Kilkenny will probably play two inside and DJ will come out and take Kinahan with him, leaving the two corner backs inside. So we're looking at some key tactical battles.

On balance, Kilkenny would appear to have better players. Offaly will need a full 70-minute team performance, especially from the likes of Johnny Pilkington.

I would be a little worried about the Kilkenny half back line. They have yet to consolidate their position as the starting trio in the way that Cork have done. They have yet to prove a similar rock that can causes the Offaly forwards to fail. So the game may well be won or lost in the line of Mulhare, Hannify and Murphy on the half backs of Barry, Kennedy and Larkin.

Offaly will have to produce a tremendous performance to win and while my heart says they can, my head says that Kilkenny will prevail. Like last Sunday, no one wants to come in the back door. There's a Leinster title at stake and while everybody is still talking about the awe of the Munster championship, it should be a great game.

Of course, a lot of Kilkenny players have been around and it may be hard to keep themselves hungry but they'll also want to make up for the last two All-Ireland defeats and prove it shouldn't have happened. Once they put on that county jersey they will always give their best.