Tipperary will need to show their true class

TIPPERARY v OFFALY  IT'S STAND up and deliver time for Tipperary. If there is any kick left in last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists then they'll have to show it here, and while they do have a good record against Offaly, it's not the sort of opposition they'll be relishing right now.

Liam Sheedy has made two interesting changes in personnel from the team which beat Wexford in the second phase two weeks ago, with corner back Paddy Stapleton and full back Paul Curran coming into the starting 15 in place of Conor O’Brien and Séamus Callanan.

There are also a number of interesting positional switches, the most notable of which sees regular midfielder Shane McGrath named at centre forward, and man of the match against Wexford, David Young, named to replace him at midfield.

Noel McGrath is named in the full forward line alongside Lar Corbett and team captain Eoin Kelly.

Tomorrow marks their fourth championship meeting in 10 years, having previously clashed in the qualifiers 2002, 2003 and 2007 – with Tipperary winning all three.

Offaly have surprised a lot of people this summer, particularly with their showing against Galway, and have some big scoring forwards of their own, particularly Shane Dooley.

Manager Joe Dooley has named the same team that struggled past Limerick in the last round.

Daniel Currams, who was suspended for the last few games, is eligible again and is named among the substitutes.

But if class is indeed permanent then Tipperary should progress.

TIPPERARY:B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Curran, M Cahill; D Fanning, C O'Mahony, P Maher; B Maher, D Young; G Ryan, S McGrath, P Maher; N McGrath, L Corbett, E Kelly.

OFFALY:J Dempsey; D Franks, P Cleary, J Rigney; D Hayden, D Kenny, D Morkan; B Murphy, R Hanniffy; B Carroll, J Brady, D Molloy; C Parlon, J Bergin, S Dooley.

Referee:J Sexton (Cork).