Sunday's clash of Galway and Kilkenny at Salthill is an opportunity for both counties to have a rare proper test in the Leinster SHC, according to Jackie Tyrrell.
The Cats started their campaign last weekend with a ludicrous 32-point victory over Antrim at Nowlan Park, while the Tribesmen had 11 points to spare over Carlow.
The sides have contested the last two provincial finals, including last year's smash and grab for Kilkenny, and they are favoured to reach the decider again next month.
A draw between Wexford and Dublin has kept both counties' hopes of a trip to the provincial final alive. The Yellowbellies have beaten their black and amber neighbours in their last two Leinster SHC meetings, although with the caveat that the Cats had already qualified for the final on both occasions.
Similarly, the Dubs knocked Galway out of the province in 2018 and 2021, while they drew with them last year, so a different Leinster final pairing is not completely out of the question just yet.
But for Tyrrell, who was speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast, the two best sides on paper will be playing at Pearse Stadium and it'll give both a good reading of their level at this stage of the year.
"Henry [Shefflin, Galway manager] will be going for this all guns blazing," he said.
"You'll see a much stronger team with all his starters coming out this weekend. The way Leinster is, how many acid tests are they going to get because they need to win a Leinster final this year.
"You look at Dublin, you look at Wexford, but you particularly put a ring around Kilkenny and say you're going to get a battle and a test.
"We need to find out about the Gavin Lees, the Declan McLoughlins of this world - the new guys. He'll be putting them out and saying, 'places are up for grabs this year, let's see what you can do.'
"Kilkenny are coming to town and I think he'll be putting a huge amount of merit [on it]."
Shefflin has brought Johnny Glynn back into the Galway panel with the 2017 All-Ireland winner having been out of contention for selection since 2019.
Tyrrell reckons we'll get to see the former New York GAA football captain at some point, but that it might take a bit more time for him to get back up to peak fitness.
"There's questions over how up to speed is he," Tyrrell added.
"How is he physically? We know he played football in New York so you'd imagine he has a reasonable fitness level. Henry wouldn't have brought him back if he didn't see something in him.
"Is he at a pitch where he's ready for Kilkenny, because you don't want to throw him into a game where he's not ready and make a dent to his confidence.
"He's a very unique character in his ball-winning ability, it's probably up in the top four or five in the country with TJ [Reid], Peter Duggan - his strength is unbelievable.
"His hurling, at times, leaves a lot to be desired but what do Galway need? Ball winners. You can imagine the likes of Conor Whelan buzzing off this.
"If he's any way right, if you don't start him you give him a good half. Edge of the square, and let it in with snow on it."
GOAL KILKENNY - Cillian Buckley with the last, dramatic act of the game snatches victory for Kilkenny in the Leinster final. The Cats win 4-21 to 2-26
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For all the talk of Clare being Ireland's number two side in the build up to the new championship season, it's Kilkenny who have made it to the last two All-Ireland finals at the Banner's expense.
The Cats were the last side to have the chance to go for the five-in-a-row of All-Irelands back in 2010, falling at the final hurdle in the Liam MacCarthy match against Tipperary.
With Limerick having the chance to create that piece of history this summer, Kilkenny will be determined to go one better than they have in the last two All-Ireland finals and beat John Kiely's men.
There's a lot of hurling to do before then and, although he expects his native county to come good this year, Tyrrell says it's not likely to be a full strength team which takes to the field at Pearse Stadium.
"There's serious question marks over Eoin Cody and Adrian Mullen and the talk is that they won't tog out this weekend," said the 10-time Leinster winner.
"So for Derek [Lyng], Owen Wall came on at the weekend and scored 2-02 so you'd imagine he might get some game time this weekend. Billy Drennan might feature as well.
"It'll be saucy enough now!"
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Watch a hurling double-header, Galway v Kilkenny in the Leinster Championship (2pm) and Limerick v Tipperary in the Munster Championship (4pm), on Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
