In a bid to freshen up his options for the 2006 season, Kilkenny boss Brian Cody has omitted seven regular players from his squad for the upcoming Walsh Cup and National League campaigns.
Seven players who featured in August's All-Ireland SHC semi-final defeat by Galway are missing from Cody's 34-man panel ahead of the Cats' defence of both titles.
John Hoyne (Graigue-Ballycallan), Conor Phelan (Clara), Mark Phelan (Glenmore), John Maher (St Martin's) and Ken Coogan (Tullaroan) are all missing.
The 27-year-old half-forward Hoyne was taken off after 43 minutes of the Galway game and is thought to be paying the price for some indifferent form in 2005.
Meanwhile, two cornerstones of the Kilkenny team, nine-time All-Star winning forward DJ Carey, who is currently away in Cuba on a charity walk for the Irish heart Foundation, and last season's captain Peter Barry, have been given the winter off, but are expected to return at some stage in the league run.
Centre back Barry is currently spearheading James Stephens' bid for a second AIB All-Ireland club title. Barry's club mate and manager Cody's own son Donnacha is among a host of new inclusions.
Donnacha Cody, Austin Murphy (Clara), John Dalton (Carrickshock), PJ Delaney (Fenians), Michael Fennelly (Shamrocks) and Eoin Reid (Shamrocks), who all started in the Cats' All-Ireland Under-21 final defeat by Galway in September, have been bumped up to the senior ranks.
Dunamaggin full-back Noel Hickey, who turns 25 later this month, also returns having picked up a virus in July that cut short his championship.
Cody is likely to field a number of those newcomers when his side take on the TG4 Underdogs selection at Nowlan Park on Saturday week.
