The first big match in this year's senior championship brings together two familiar rivals for the Guinness Munster first round. Cork and Clare have had awkward National League campaigns under new management as well as some fractious panel departures. Adding to the sense of unease is the much-commented-on fact the losers are likely to have an easier route to the All-Ireland series, through the qualifiers rather than through the province.
This situation creates a bit of a comfort zone for Clare, who have given their best performances in the qualifiers in recent years, but equally they could do with a championship win for the first time in four years, whereas it would be taken as indicative of serious decline if Cork found themselves taking the parallel road next month.
As might be expected, the team announced for tomorrow should show changes before the ball is thrown in. Diarmuid McMahon is expected to switch to centre back, with debutant Brendan Bugler going to the wing, Gerry Quinn to centrefield and Colin Lynch to full forward.
Clare have developed a strong siege mentality and - not surprisingly given the friction between management and the county board - Tony Considine is entitled to the old Mick O'Dwyer line about being up against 31-and-a-half counties.
Cork have their own difficulties and plug the two obvious holes by naming Cian O'Connor at left corner back and Timmy McCarthy at full forward for the retired Brian Corcoran.
This isn't hugely encouraging for the forwards as McCarthy has virtually no championship experience in the position, but his ball-winning ability is nonetheless backed to cause trouble. Gerry O'Grady steels himself for another encounter with Joe Deane, a task that left him a bit shell-shocked last year, but there is confidence that O'Grady is exactly the sort of player who can recover - as he showed in his part-redemption in last year's second half.
Cork's big advantage is in the back line, particularly the half-back line and centre third of the field. Despite reservations about form, those five players are very experienced and have the ability to dominate the match.
Clare have not persevered with Conor Plunkett at centre back, slightly strange given he was such a fixture in the league, but McMahon has experience in the position, albeit including a not-very-positive afternoon against Cork four years ago.
CORK: D Cusack; B Murphy, D O'Sullivan, C O'Connor; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, J O'Connor; K Murphy, N McCarthy, P Cronin; J Deane, T McCarthy, B O'Connor.
CLARE: P Brennan; G O'Grady, B O'Connell, F Lohan; A Markham, B Bugler, G Quinn; C Lynch, K Dilleen; J Clancy, D McMahon, N Gilligan; A Quinn, F Lynch, B Nugent.
Referee: Pat O'Connor (Limerick)
Munster SHC - First Round Cork v Clare Tomorrow, Thurles 3.30pm, live on RTÉ 2
Over the years despite some good results against their neighbours in the National League, Laois have seldom managed to compete once the championship arrives. Ironically, a year ago when the conditions were fouler than during any spring fixture, it was Offaly's physical advantage that held sway whereas traditionally it had been their hurling that marked the difference between the teams.
It's been a dire few weeks for John McIntyre's team - from losing out to Clare on scoring difference for fourth place in their division and getting whacked by Limerick in the relegation play-off to losing their appeal against the nine-team Division One that will next year exclude them.
Offaly know the price of hurling at a lower level than championship opponents and how steep it can be as the ground gets harder and faster. Against that, Laois can point to a far more competitive display against Limerick than Offaly managed but the winners acknowledge the circumstances were considerably different in the two matches. Offaly were well in contention in the first half, trailing by only four points, before being torn apart after the break.
A plague of injuries combined with late fitness tests to Ger Oakley, Joe Bergin, Barry Teehan and David Franks has delayed the naming of the Offaly team, but however they line out, they will have an advantage over younger, inexperienced (eight championship newcomers) and physically unimposing opponents.
Under the management of Offaly man Damien Fox, Laois have shown improvement this year. The decision to introduce under-21 players and let them develop as a unit gave the team a successful NHL that ended with the Division Two title but they are still dependent on James Young for scores. They have a couple of injuries, with JJ McHugh and Brian Campion out after a week of scares that included Young feeling unwell.
LAOIS: P Mullaney; C Healy, D Rooney, K Fitzpatrick; M McEvoy, M Whelan, C Dunne; J Fitzpatrick, S Dollard; W Hyland, J Young, J Phelan; J Brophy, T Fitzgerald, J Phelan.
OFFALY: To be announced.
Referee: Michael Haverty (Galway).
Leinster SHC - First Round Laois v Offaly Tomorrow, Tullamore 3.30pm
