The next two weeks will be the litmus test as far as Cork's development under manager Pat Ryan is concerned, according to RTÉ hurling analyst Shane Dowling.
After easing past Waterford in round one and snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat against Tipperary last time out, the Rebels now face two tricky assignments on the road to get out of Munster.
It is likely they will need to pull off a win either in Ennis or away to champions Limerick to guarantee progress, and former Treaty forward Shane Dowling isn’t quite buying into the theory just yet that Cork are moving into a new phase under new management.
The Banner, who failed to ignite at home to Tipp before sinking Limerick in a thrilling contest nearly three weeks ago are in a similar boat to Cork, with so much on the line when the sides clash at Cusack Park this weekend.
Cork have a good recent championship record against Clare – the 2013 All-Ireland final an obvious exception – but speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast, Dowling says he is reserving judgement on both sides, but in particular the Rebels.
"It’s a bit too soon to be going under the Pat Ryan-era and what Pat Ryan will do, because the funny thing is if they go down to Clare at the weekend and lose, then Limerick have a chance to knock them out of the championship," he said.
"Then all of a sudden, this was wrong, that was wrong, the same old Cork. It’s way too soon to be talking about.
"Can they go down to Ennis and win? Or can they turn over the All-Ireland champions in their backyard? That’s where you will be judged on how good a team they are."
Dowling admitted in a recent roadshow event on Leeside that he feels Cork could fall short in making it out of the province this year.
A lack of leaders in sticky situations is a criticism that has been regularly thrown at the men in red over the years, and until that changes, Dowling says the jury is out on just how far Ryan’s men can go in the championship.
"I genuinely think Cork are a fantastic hurling county," he said.
"They have some exceptional players and have had over the years, but the perception – and maybe it’s not perception, maybe it’s factual – the last number of years, that bit of devilment…you want players to go down swinging and fighting, and that hasn’t happened in Cork.
"It’s only when that happens I can say, yeah, fair enough, now Cork have the hurlers, but they also have a shower of dogs inside that squad that are going to pull them over the line.
"A win on Sunday, irrelevant of what happens in the Gaelic Grounds, will be massive."
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Watch a Munster Hurling Championship double-header, Clare v Cork and Tipperary v Limerick, from 1.30pm on Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on the RTÉ News app or RTÉ.ie/Sport or listen to live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch highlights of the weekend's football and hurling championship action on The Saturday Game and The Sunday Game, 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
