RTÉ hurling analyst Eddie Brennan is surprised by Clare's poor start to the Allianz Hurling League but thinks manager Davy Fitzgerald's mind is firmly on the summer.
Clare lost narrowly to Galway first day out before suffering a big reversal to Cork in round two.
The Bannermen welcome Tipperary to Ennis on Sunday knowing a third successive defeat would put them on a likely course towards a relegation play-off.
"I expected big things from Clare in this league. I feel their desire to get their hands on a bit of silverware should be stronger than they have shown so far," Brennan told RTÉ Sport.
"Maybe by Davy Fitz's team selection you'd say he's probably experimenting a little bit.
"This time of year is not for the most polished or pretty hurling but for finding out what kind of fight is in your fellas.
"Attitude is a very important at this time of the year. When you're going out into dirty, wet conditions it's a mental challenge more than anything else.
"From my own experience, Brian Cody would have always drawn on the league to see what was in lads' bellies, how far they are willing to go for you at a time of the year when the ball is not flying around as fast as it could be."
Brennan thinks that Fitzgerald's experimentation could be a smokescreen for his real plans, which won't be seen until the first sliothar is thrown in the Munster championship.
"When you look through Clare always, they never really go all out, guns blazing for a league campaign," he said.
"Davy said himself he wasn't too pushed by the result [against Cork], he was trying a few things out.
"Davy tends to keep his cards close to his chest. He probably doesn't want to show his hand just yet." - Eddie Brennan
"He indicated as much that he had his eye on Limerick in the first round [Munster quarter-final] and that's what he's aiming towards.
"Davy tends to keep his cards close to his chest. He probably doesn't want to show his hand just yet, show what he's trying to do. Maybe he's just trying to get guys out of their comfort zone by giving them a different challenge.
"But certainly you'd say a few of the things they've been trying, Brendan Bugler at midfield, Patrick Donnellan in the half-forward line... Maybe it's just something he wants to have a look at but I think those two men were pivotal to Clare in their pursuit of their All-Ireland title in the backs. I would be surprised if those two held those positions.
"Clare tend to train quite hard at this time of the year, maybe to test lads' mettle to go out when they're fatigued and ultimately he's trying to build up fitness levels."
The former Kilkenny star thinks Clare will be more focused on securing the points than trying new things this week, however, as old foes Tipp come to Cusack Park.
"I think they'll be going all out for a win at the weekend," he said.
"Traditionally, Tipp bring a lot out of Clare. There's a good rivalry there. This time last year Clare went to Thurles and gave Tipp a good beating. Then in the league semi-final, Tipp returned the compliment.
"It's one thing saying 'it's only the league, we're trying a few things' but winning is a habit and when you have a young team, like Clare have, you need belief.
"Their confidence probably took a little bit of a battering last year. You can't just switch on that belief and confidence in your hurling, you need that from competitive matches, and Divisions 1A and B offer that to teams in abundance."
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