TESTS TODAY at Waterford Regional Hospital should reveal the full extent of the injury suffered by Kilkenny star Richie Power during a club game on Saturday evening.

It was feared the player might have suffered a cruciate ligament injury while playing for his club in the county senior hurling league clash.

Things were looking better by yesterday, but it is now almost certain that Power will not figure in Sunday’s National Hurling League final against Cork.

The Carrickshock attacker fell awkwardly to the ground after contesting a high ball during the closing minutes of the senior hurling league clash against James Stephens in Thomastown. Fears were that he had suffered a serious knee injury.

Power was carried off on a stretcher and a car was then brought onto the field to rush him to St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny for treatment.

Power had a couple of sessions in the cryotherapy centre in White’s Hotel, Wexford on Sunday. While the outlook is more encouraging, the full extent of the injury will not be known until Power visits top surgeon Tadhg O’Sullivan in Waterford today, where he will undergo a series of tests.

Power was in terrific form during the game. He scored 0-7 as he inspired Carrickshock to a 1-15 to 2-11 win over the championship holders.

There was better news for Kilkenny manager Brian Cody when Richie Hogan made a surprise return to club action with Danesfort yesterday.

Hogan had broken two ribs and sustained a punctured lung in a collision with Galway goalkeeper Jamie Ryan during the side’s league clash at Nowlan Park on April 1st.

Hogan had given up on any thoughts of featuring again during the competition, but the injury improved rapidly during the past 10 days and Hogan lined out as wing-forward against Ballyhale Shamrocks in the league.

He is now a definite contender for a place on the team to play Cork.