Davy Fitzgerald feels Sunday's meeting between Clare and Waterford will provide an epic conclusion worthy of any great trilogy.
Fitzgerald's Clare overcame the Déise by a solitary point after a replay to win the Allianz League title, and the All-Ireland winner expects another intense encounter in Semple Stadium this weekend.
Speaking to RTÉ, Fitzgerald said: "They normally say 'this is going to be a dogfight' - it's going to be tougher than that. We'll be like two sets of wolves out there going at it."
While the drawn league final was a somewhat dour encounter, while the replay was a more open affair. However, neither game lacked in intensity.
Former Waterford manager Fitzgerald expects more of the same this time out.
"We'll try and do one or two small little things we haven't done before, but generally I think it'll be a lot of what you've seen the last two days - serious intensity and hard to get scores."
Despite the public perception, Fitzgerald felt there were some moments of magic in the two previous episodes of Clare v Waterford.
"We're looking forward to this. It's great to be involved in days like this and whatever happens I've a feeling it'll be a close one." - Davy Fitzgerald
"I hear people saying there wasn't goals and x,y and z – sometimes you get goals when there's no one on you, imagine scoring from 70 or 80 yards out when there's a fella really putting you under pressure, that's some talent."
Familiarity can sometimes breed contempt, but in this case it seems unlikely as Fitzgerald says his side respect Waterford and their manager.
"We respect Waterford and what Derek McGrath has done – he's done a fantastic job. It's going to be a battle, I don’t think there’ll be the puck of a ball in it.
"We know what Waterford are going to bring, we respect the way they play, their intensity. Clare are going to bring that same thing the next day again.
"We're looking forward to this. It's great to be involved in days like this and whatever happens I've a feeling it'll be a close one."
Clare's new-found midfielder David Reidy says the Bannermen have been targetting this date since early in the tear.
"We're all looking forward to it now - back at the start of the year, the fifth of June was one of our goals.
"Nothing beats Semple Stadium on a Championship day. It's the home of hurling and everyone knows that.
"The crowd is going to be there, the atmosphere is going to be fantastic and the battle on the field is going to be fantastic as well."
"Nothing beats Semple Stadium on a Championship day. It's the home of hurling and everyone knows that" - David Reidy
Reidy has previously featured as a corner forward, but has enjoyed his move out the field to the hectic middle third.
"Playing out midfield is a new lease of life for myself. It probably wasn't 'til this year I moved out the field thrugh the college team (LIT) and it's sparked from there.
"Both of the games have been hectic in the middle of the field. There's about 20 lads in that confined space so there's not much room."
The midfield action should feed into the atmosphere in true Munster Championship style, with Reidy saying if fans are looking for a battle, Thurles is the place to be.
"Both teams will be giving 100%. I suppose the crowds will feel the intensity action, it'll be a good Championship game."
Waterford v Clare is live on RTE2 from 4pm on Sunday, with a live blog here on RTE.ie
