Former Kilkenny hurler Eddie Brennan believes Galway will be spurred on by past defeats when they meet Kilkenny in the All-Ireland SHC final on 6 September.
Galway booked their place in the decider after a thrilling one-point victory over Tipperary at Croke Park. It earned them another shot at the Cats after the seven-point loss in the Leinster final in July.
However, Brennan told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that Kilkenny players and management will be ready for the challenge of a resurgent Galway.
"Brian Cody will certainly look forward and embrace the challenge, as do the Kilkenny players," said Brennan.
"I don’t think anything fazes them in that regard. They’ll look forward to it, they know that what comes with sport is winning and losing, so they won’t be afraid of taking on Galway.
"But I think this is a Galway team on a mission. They have the experience and hurt of 2012 carrying them forward. This is a Galway team that has Kilkenny firmly in their sights. It’s one we’re looking forward to, but one we’re a bit nervous about."
Brennan was full of praise for the way Galway have responded to that defeat in the Leinster final, as they have seen off Cork in the quarter-final and then Tipperary in the semi-final, in a game he described as "an epic battle and one that we’ll remember for some time".
"I think the word resilience, and stubbornness, almost, is the way I would describe Galway’s attitude since the Leinster final defeat, particularly yesterday," said Brennan.
"They just refused to lie down when the blows kept coming. Seamus Callanan delivered three unbelievable strikes and that would have knocked a lesser team, a mentally soft team. To be fair to Galway, there was no panic and some of the younger lads were so composed.
"Young [Cathal] Mannion up front and Jason Flynn have been just an absolute breath of fresh air for Galway this year and they have taken pressure off Joe Canning. Young [Conor] Whelan rowed in with a couple of brilliant points yesterday when Galway really needed them."
