Cork are under no illusion about having to up their performance level if they're to beat Limerick on Sunday, according to midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon.
The Rebels beat the All-Ireland champions in the Munster round-robin in May, a game which they had to win to have any chance of saving their season. And they did just that, with Patrick Horgan's late goal from a penalty helping to swing the game in their favour.
It started a run which has now seen them win four games on the bounce, dispatching Tipperary, Offaly and Dublin on their way to a first semi-final in three years, and a first coming through the provincial round-robin since they won Munster in 2018.
But for Fitzgibbon, the performance eight weeks ago in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh won't be enough to see them end Limerick's quest for five-in-a-row hurling immortality.
"Limerick are such a good side and they're very good at adapting to what you're able to do," he said.
"We know that if we bring the exact same thing as we brought the last time, it won't be good enough. We have to bring more and we have to tweak a couple of things."
On Limerick he adds, "you look at their players from 1-15, and the guys coming in and they're all exceptional players.
"Their ability to adjust to the changes that you're trying to bring against them is very tough. You need everything to go right for the full 70 minutes to have any chance against them.
"Over the last couple of years they've been asked every type of question and they've answered it.
"They're an incredible side and we'll just try our best."
The key for Cork this season seems to have been the ability to banish the doubts that existed around the team.
They ended their 2023 Munster campaign with a draw against Tipperary, and followed up it with defeats to Clare and Limerick.
Two games into the provincial campaign this year had seen another two losses added to the results column - against Waterford and Clare - and, with the Treaty men to come, there was a feeling that it was all falling apart for Cork.
But that night of defiance by the banks of the Lee changed the whole narrative around the squad.
"After the 2023 season, and the first two games of 2024, we'd only won one game. As a player, you're looking at yourself and wondering if this is working," he acknowledges.
"We had to keep believing in ourselves and trusting each other. The players had to take a bit more responsibility for what we were doing on the field as well. There was a sense that we had to throw caution to the wind - we had no choice.
"The two games against Limerick and Tipp, with getting good results, gave us that confidence that the things we have been working on in training - the things we had to try and improve - have helped us get over the line.
"We've won four championship games in a row and we can take confidence in that."
Cork and Limerick's last meeting in Croke Park was nearly three years ago.
That was the All-Ireland final of 2021 and it ended up being one of the worst deciders, from a neutral's perspective, of the last 10 years.
An early goal for the Rebels teased us into thinking we were going to see a real contest, but John Kiely's men soon found their rhythm and blew their opponents out of the water.
It was a harsh lesson for Fitzgibbon, but one they've tried to use to get the best possible performance out of the team on Sunday.
"One thing we are saying to the younger lads is that you won't get these opportunities [every year] and you have to take them when you get them.
"The last time we were in Croke Park was the All-Ireland final in 2021. We were inside in the dressing room after saying it was a disappointing day, but we'd build on it and come again.
"But it's been three years since we've been in Croke Park, so it's one thing we're ensuring the young lads, whatever role they have, they have to play to the best of their ability because me mightn't get these opportunities again.
"We're in an All-Ireland semi-final so we know have to raise those levels. If we stay at the same level as we've been at the last couple of weeks, it won't be good enough."
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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
