Dublin v Wexford

Is this a clash of an emerging county on the up versus a former great on the way down? Or is it just a match between two sides of relatively similar quality, both of whom will not come close to winning any silverware this year?

There has been a lot of talk about this Dublin side having the wherewithal to reach the Metropolitans’ first Leinster final since 1991.

They have laid the foundations with provincial titles at minor and U-21 and there is no doubt that this work is now bearing fruit at senior level.

The Dubs also seem a content bunch at the moment. For too long various managers were not able to get the best out of the talent that was at their disposal, while the issue of dual players invariably stole the limelight and the headlines.

A former dual player, David O’Callaghan, has now decided to concentrate on hurling and manager Tommy Naughton is feeling the benefit of that decision.

The St Mark’s clubman hit 1-05 against Westmeath in a game that the Dubs’ were slow to get going in but eventually went up through the gears and ran out easy winners.

Wexford come into the game off the back of a disappointing league campaign that ended in relegation.

1996 seems a long time ago and there are few that would argue that the Slaneysiders are close to offering a viable challenge to Kilkenny’s dominance of the province.

Defeat to Dublin would be a bitter pill to swallow for the Model men, who are long used to having the upper hand over Saturday’s opponents.

Manager John Meyler has opted to deploy the experienced David ‘Doc’ O’Connor at centre-back.

O’Connor spent last summer operating as a less-than-influential centre-forward, where he never looked like he could make the transition from his naturally defensive game.

But that decision does not mean that Meyler has stopped tinkering. Michael Jacob trades his customary attacking role for a place in the half-back line, while Diarmuid ‘Gizzy’ Lyng is set to line out at wing-forward.

The last few games have been pretty tight between these two, with late scores earning Wexford a draw in the league and a narrow win in last year’s corresponding Championship encounter.

There have been few enough draws so far this year, but this looks as good a contender as any to need a second day to be settled.

Verdict: Draw