It's seven years since Clare and Limerick last did battle in the Munster Championship. On 22 June, 2008 the Banner prevailed by 4-12 to 1-16 in the provincial semi-final.
Since then the counties have met twice in the championship, with Limerick winning a 2012 qualifier by four points. A year later, Clare turned the tables with a comprehensive victory in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Today's Munster quarter-final encounter offers much intrigue as it's fair to say we don't know what exactly to expect at Semple Stadium.
"It's probably the most open championship in years" is how RTÉ analyst Liam Sheedy sums up the upcoming campaign.
"I was never as excited ahead of a championship season as I am for this 2015 campaign" - Liam Sheedy
"Clare v Limerick is so intriguing and I think we'll have a number of intriguing games in the months ahead - games that will be decided by team formations or an injury or two.
"I was never as excited ahead of a championship season as I am for this 2015 campaign."
Clare's last Munster title was in 1998 and Sheedy expects Davy Fitzgerald's side to make a big push to end that long wait. However, the loss of key players, he adds, could derail their prospects at the first hurdle.
"A lot of the present Clare squad have had great success at U-21 level, so you’d imagine they’d come with a real drive this year to win Munster," he said
"Yet, Brendan Bugler is out because of suspension and Podge Collins, a player who lit up the their run to the All-Ireland in 2013, has thrown his lot in with the footballers. Colin Galvin has gone on a J1 and the word is that Conor McGrath is struggling a bit with injury.
"All of that puts an extra ask on the squad and it will be interesting to see how they respond on Sunday."
After a poor league campaign in which Limerick failed to achieve promotion, Sheedy wonders what shape TJ Ryan's side will be in for their championship opener.
"It just didn't happen for them in the league, but that's not unusual for Limerick," revealed the 2010 All-Ireland winning manager.
"I left Croke Park last year (after a narrow loss to Kilkenny in All-Ireland semi-final) and I said to myself that Limerick are definitely a team on the rise.
"This season, I did expect them to get promotion from Division 1B, based on their championship in 2014. However, they didn't deliver, even though they were without the Kilmallock contingent for most the league because of their run to the All-Ireland club final.
"Last year, they limped out of the league against Galway but still came out and beat Tipp in Munster. This year it was something similar as Dublin beat them easily in the league quarter-final and they were really poor that day.
"I think it's fair to say that this Limerick team probably see themselves as a championship team."
Sheedy concludes that this weekend's encounter leaves more questions and answers and that more often than not games between the counties "take on a life of its own."
In deciding which team can progress to the semi-final, the Tipperary native will be scanning the starting the line-ups closely.
"Who's playing on who will give us a a big clue as to Sunday's outcome.
"In Cian Lynch, Limerick have an up and coming player with real potential. Go back to last year and I thought the side lacked one or two forwards of real class. Lynch's involvement can make a difference.
"If Conor McGrath is not fully fit, it will be a massive blow for Clare. He was a key figure in their 2013 All-Ireland success. If he doesn't play, it would be like Kilkenny not having Richie Hogan or Tipperary without Seamus Callinan.
"However, if McGrath starts and the Clare full-back line get to the form from two years ago, I go with them to get over the line in what will be a massive battle."
For the loser, there is a second chance in the back door - a chance that Sheedy's Tipperary embraced wholeheartedly en route to stopping Kilkenny's drive for five in '10.
The analyst believes that the vanquished can still have a long summer, though they will have to be wary of other big fish that will inhabit the qualifier waters.
"The loser will have time to re-group as the first game in the qualifiers is not until 4 July. The time is there for much soul-searching and for the wagons to be circled.
"Both teams have a realistic chance of getting to the last four. However, if you go the qualifier route, you do need a little bit of luck with home and away draws and the possibility of meeting some big guns."
Follow Clare v Limerick from 3.30pm Sunday via our live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News Now app, watch live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, worldwide via GAAGO, or listen in with RTÉ Radio 1.
