Galway look set to be without goalkeeper James Skehill for the rest of the Allianz Hurling League.
Skehill dislocated his shoulder during Sunday’s defeat to Waterford and while a further medical assessment will be carried out on Thursday, it looks like the custodian could be out of action for at least a month.
Galway’s final regulation match in the league is away to Kilkenny on Sunday and defeat against the Cats could see them face a relegation play-off with Dublin if Waterford beat the Dubs on the same afternoon.
However, should Anthony Cunningham's side prevail in Nowlan Park, then they would qualify for a league semi-final.
Speaking in Irish Examiner ahead of the game, the Galway boss said: "It is a huge challenge but that’s what we are here for, to go at them. We’ll prepare well for it during the week and look forward to next weekend."
"For young players in a team that is developing, you can’t beat experience, or big day matches like league semi-final or matches like Sunday. You can’t coach experience, it all comes with playing these matches and those are the positions we want to be in."
