Liam Sheedy is relishing the chance to measure his Tipperary side against the best in the land when they travel to Limerick for this Saturday's Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash.
Sheedy, who steered the Premier to the Liam MacCarthy nine years ago, is back in the bainisteoir bib having taken the reins for a second stint in the autumn.
Tipp kicked off their league campaign with a hardfought 1-17 to 2-11 defeat of Clare. Sheedy does not hide the fact that his main priority is ensuring the side are in peak condition to mount a serious summer charge but a good spring is key to that too.
A trip to the Treaty is a welcome test.
"It's good to get out of the blocks in the league," Sheedy told RTÉ Sport's Marty Morrissey.
"Look, it's only January, conditions are really, really tough. I think the sending-off had a massive bearing on the game but overall we were very happy with our performance. We're up and running.
"We've a lot of work to do. We just want to make sure we're in the best shape come championship. We're conscious we have to play league games and we have to make sure we're competitive in the league, but also we've got to ensure we are well prepared for May and the start of the championship. There's a lot of balls to be juggled throughout 2019.
"If that's where the bar is, and Limerick are the bar, it's a great chance for us to see how close we are"
"Tipp and Limerick have had some great battles over the years. They come into 2019 as All-Ireland champions. They had an outstanding year, they're worthy champions, and for us, the chance to play the All-Ireland champions in their own back yard is a great opportunity.
"You need pace and power in your team. We're fortunate. We've an All-Ireland-winning Under-21 team coming through and we've obviously got guys who've got All-Ireland medals from 2016. The challenge for me and my management team is to try and blend that into a winning formula. It's not easy, but their application so far has been superb.
"If that's where the bar is, and Limerick are the bar, it's a great chance for us to see how close we are.
"Hurling is in a great place. Everyone feels they can beat everyone else and that makes for really good competition."
