SHC QUARTER-FINALS:WEXFORD MANAGER John Meyler has been boosted by the return of forwards Stephen Nolan and Barry Lambert ahead of next Sunday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Waterford.

Lambert played the full hour of a 1-22 to 1-21 challenge match defeat against Clare in Templemore last Saturday morning while Nolan saw 10 minutes of action.

Lambert has not played for Wexford all year because of a groin injury but the problem has improved considerably in recent weeks following the intervention of a personal friend of Meyler's.

The manager explained: "An old college friend of mine from Gormanstown Richie Lanigan is a chiropractor based in London who is in Leixlip one day a week.

"Barry went to Richie who felt that surgery was the last option to cure the problem.

"Richie has dealt with many soccer players in England and believes that many of them undergo surgery too hastily."

Nolan's return from a broken thumb which has ruled him out for the last six weeks is another boost to Meyler, who confirmed the Faythe Harriers man will have some part to play against Waterford.

The bad news for Meyler is that full back Keith Rossiter, CiaráKenny, John O'Connor and MJ Furlong are out through injury.

Wexford will start as underdogs against a revitalised Waterford but Meyler is quietly confident that his team can build on an encouraging first-half display in the Leinster final defeat to Kilkenny.

He said: "I'd always be optimistic every time we go out. We try to improve all the time and after the Leinster final, where we played for the first half and five minutes into the second half, we want to take that level up from 40 minutes to 55 or 60.

"Some people said to me that they saw some of the best hurling from Wexford in 10 years and that gives us hope and confidence."