Brian Cody warned his Kilkenny players that no one is safe from getting the axe after his side's 4-22 to 2-19 Allianz Hurling League defeat to Clare on Sunday.
An Aaron Cunningham-inspired Clare were in scintillating form at Semple Stadium, rippling the net four times en route to a comprehensive victory.
Cody was gracious in defeat, accepting the All-Ireland champions lost to a side bang in form, but will expect a reaction after they lick their wounds.
“There are no big names," he said. "They’re all names, we all have names, and every member of the panel is in a fight for his place so we’ll see where we go.
“It was very obvious from, I suppose halfway through the first half that Clare were going very well. They were the better team on the day, there’s no doubt about it, and we were well beaten.
“You take each game on its merits. We were beaten by a better team. It’s not the first time it’s happened and it’s just the way it goes."
Davy Fitzgerald's Clare can now look forward to a league decider with Waterford in two weeks' time, but Cody insisted it had still been a useful campaign for the Cats.
Twelve months ago they edged out the Banner in a thrilling relegation play-off, and the veteran manager put Sunday's setback in perspective.
"We got much further in the league this year than we did last year," he added. "Last year we were in a play-off for relegation; this year we got to a league semi-final so it hasn’t been a bad league for us overall."
