Dan Shanahan feels Cork lack a "small bit of aggression" as the Munster Championship clash with Waterford looms this afternoon.
The Rebels visit Walsh Park (Live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio 1) as they try to avoid an early exit from the competition having lost two from two so far.
Speaking on The Championship, Waterford great Shanahan said that if his county can equal the aggression levels Cork muster, then it will be a victory for Liam Cahill's Allianz League winners.
"They play to a system that they trust. The one thing I think when you play Cork, they lack a small bit of aggression in the tackle," he said.
"They don't seem to come out with the ball but other teams, when you mix it with Cork they seem to wither a small bit.
"I don't like saying that either because they could come out on Sunday and really tear into Waterford which I expect them to do anyway.
"But if Waterford can match that intensity from Cork, I do think they will come out on top."
While Shanahan feels Sunday's venue may not be perfectly suited to Waterford's approach, he still expects them to have the edge.
"It's a great game for Waterford to go into because Cork aren't playing well at the moment," said Shanahan, who was a selector under Derek McGrath.
"They've had three weeks to prepare for this. The three-week break was very important for Liam and his players. The break will do them good.
"But I think it's a massive game. Walsh Park, it doesn't suit the Waterford style of hurling but we haven't been beaten in Walsh Park since Liam has come in.
"Waterford are in a good place, have a home game with a massive crowd definitely, weather is going to be dry, what a place to be on Sunday."
Describing the Walsh Park playing surface as "unbelievable", Shanahan added: "Granted the pitch is tight but I know the lads have been training down there, their home pitch so they won't want to be beaten in Walsh Park.
"And Liam hasn't been beaten in Walsh Park and he'll want that to continue because if they win on Sunday they're almost guaranteed qualification."
Shanahan also feels the fact that Tipperary native Cahill is an outside voice within the county, has been beneficial.
"Outside coaches, they can come in, lay down the law and go home. But an inside coach or manager, can get a lot of grief from the public for not picking this fella, for not picking that fella, where an outside coach or manager can do that," he said.
"That's very important down here especially from a Waterford point of view where an outside coach has won trophies in Waterford."
While he did quip that he hopes Patrick Horgan doesn't trouble the scoresheet too often on Sunday, Shanahan paid a glowing tribute to the Cork forward who is set to break the all-time championship scoring mark at some point against the Déise.
"A great man. Whether it's free-taking or from play, Horgan has been an outstanding ambassador for Cork hurling," he said, adding that the player is likely to be more focused on winning against Waterford rather than on achieveing personal milestones.
"It's a massive achievement for Pat Horgan, his club and his family. He's a good lad, he's a great hurler, fantastic player and I really hope he does (break the record). What an achievement for a great man."
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