Former Tipperary All-Ireland winner Shane McGrath believes that Cork need to deliver a big performance this weekend, both for the sake of their league standing next year and their overall morale heading into this year's championship.
Pat Ryan's side have lost two from two in the league, falling short against Ennis in the opening week and then gifting Kilkenny a sizable early lead before missing several chances down the stretch to reel them in.
They host Waterford in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night, knowing that a win will surely condemn them to Division 1B - aka, the second tier - of the newly structured hurling league for 2025.
Given the urgency of the situation, McGrath believes - with the likes of Mark Coleman returning - that Cork will deliver their first win in the league across either code at home this weekend.
"I don't know what the excuse is for Cork if they don't perform this weekend. They have the Fitzgibbon lads back now," McGrath said on the RTÉ GAA podcast. "Lads are starting to come back from injury as well - although Robbie O'Flynn probably won't feature with a bad hamstring I believe.
"Even to see Mark Coleman coming onto the field a fortnight ago, that had to be a real-good factor for a lot of people going away, regardless of the result.
"The amount of possessions he got on. I just thought he was exceptional when he came on, the amount of ball he got on. He was mad for road, he wanted to be involved in every play.
"I think Pat Ryan will say 'I'm going as strong as I can. We have to win this.
"For a few reasons. If they don't win, they haven't a hope of being in the top table in the league next year.
"Secondly, even the morale around the camp. We're eight weeks out of from championship. This has to be it for Cork. Whatever is in the group, it has to come out against Waterford."
The match is hardly much less significant for Davy Fitzgerald's Waterford, who were pipped by Clare in Round 2 - and who suffered a scarring loss at the Cork venue last May, which fatally wounded their chances of escaping from the Munster round robin once again.
"I was down at the Waterford-Clare game, they put in a good performance," says McGrath. "I thought Clare were the better team overall and got the victory. They'll (Waterford) be wanting to come with a point to prove.
"It's a no-brainer, this is going to be the tie of the weekend. Cork have to perform. They really, really do."
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