There are two games in the Guinness All-Ireland Hurling Championship this Sunday, with Galway and Kilkenny the favourites to progress to the semi-finals.
Tipperary v Galway (Croke Park, Sunday 2.00pm)
Tipperary hurling has been in decline for quite a while and from what we have witnessed so far this season, there are few signs of a full recovery.
Okay, they can still eke out the odd decision, but a general lack of consistency seems to prevail.
Galway, of course, are the great hurling enigmas, brilliant under age promise but few make it to the top table.
There were some indications this year that perhaps the corner has been negotiated and perhaps we will at last see the fruits on display.
Verdict: Galway
Kilkenny v Limerick (Croke Park, Sunday 4.00pm)
Limerick have bitter sweet memories of Croke Park and they would dearly love to put the record straight. Team manager Joe McKenna knows what it is like to win at the highest level so he will be passing on all his knowledge to this latest crop of Treaty hurlers.
Kilkenny, who had several injury worries earlier in the week, seem to be easing somewhat with only Noel Hickey being a definite non-starter and all hurling folk throughout the country wish him well.
The Cats probably have the strongest panel which makes you thing that a few individuals may not be missed.
One worry from a Limerick point of view is that they are still not a settled side even at this late stage of the championship.
Introducing three newcomers into the Croke Park cauldron is not ideal, but Brian Cody's men should still have enough to advance.
Verdict: Kilkenny
