Liam Sheedy says that Clare in 2024 haven't performed as well as the the last two years ahead of Saturday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final.
The Banner once more face Kilkenny at Croke Park for a place in the biggest game in hurling, with the five-in-a-row Leinster champions having won the meetings between the counties in 2023 and 2022.
Having already succumbed to Limerick in the Munster final for the third year on the bounce, the pressure is on Brian Lohan to get a tune out of his players and to show progress in the race for Liam MacCarthy.
Speaking on the semi-final preview edition of the RTÉ GAA Podcast, the two-time Tipperary All-Ireland winning manager said that Clare are yet to show their best form this summer.
"The concern is that their form is not as good in 2024," Sheedy began.
"In championship 2024, they're not playing as well. Adam Hogan was outstanding in the league. Himself and David Fitzgerald were borderline player of the championship [league]. I thought they were outstanding.
"Adam needs to really fire on Saturday. He did a massive job on Eoin Cody and Cody ended up having to go out to the 40 to get on the ball in that league final.
"Equally I was really disappointed with the Clare half-back line in the Munster final. I didn't think John Conlon, David Mc[Inerney] or Diarmuid Ryan really found their top form.
"That line is really going to have to stand up. They haven't shown to me that they have an ability to transform the ball - when Eibhear Quilligan has the ball in his hand, unless Peter Duggan catches it, they're out of ideas in terms of who is going to get on the ball.
"They have a few items to solve."
The counties have met twice this year already - both in the Allianz League - with Clare winning the two games.
For Sheedy, based on his experience of leading Tipperary to the All-Ireland in 2010, it can help to instil confidence in Lohan's side that they can finally get over the Cats in championship.
"It doesn't hinder them anyway. We had lost the league and All-Ireland final to Kilkenny in 2009 and we targeted the league match in 2010 to turn over Kilkenny.
"We felt we needed to make a statement, even though it was league rather than championship.
"We beat them in Thurles and that did put a little bit of a pep in our step."
For Shane Dowling, who was speaking on the same podcast, the league match won't have a bearing on Saturday's fixture.
But the former Limerick man says it's a tough game to call.
"I know Liam said it won't hinder them, the fact that they've beaten Kilkenny twice this year. But they haven't beaten them in Croke Park in an All-Ireland semi-final.
"Beating them in the league game in Cusack Park, and then in the final in Thurles - it certainly won't hinder them, but will it benefit them? I'm not so sure.
"I can't remember a more 50/50 game in a long time."
Listen to the RTÉ GAA Podcast on the RTÉ Radio Player, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts
Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship quarter-finals, Kilkenny v Clare (3pm on Saturday on RTÉ One) and Limerick v Cork (4pm on Sunday on RTE2). Both games available on RTE Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
