Cork began the Ben O'Connor era with a facile Allianz Hurling League defeat of Waterford last weekend, but Anthony Daly expects them to get the sort of test the new management want when they head to a stormy Salthill to face Galway on Saturday evening.
Even without the retired Patrick Horgan and Hurler of the Year nominee Brian Hayes, the Rebels still racked up 3-25 in a 14-point win.
Next up is a Galway team who could take positives from their 1-21 to 1-16 loss to Tipperary. They'll be looking to make a statement at Pearse Stadium, with fresh blood and renewed optimism in the county.
With Storm Chandra still battering the country, Cork will be braced for a slog.
"(O'Connor) will be trying to bring a new edge to Cork," Daly told RTÉ Radio 1's Inside Sport.
"We were in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last week. For once in our lives along the western seaboard I suppose we've had it easier rain wise than Dublin and that, but the pitch was unbelievable in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. You saw the type of ball they were able to play up to Declan Dalton, the first touch and the movement.
"That's not likely in Salthill being honest. Seven o'clock on a Saturday evening in January, there's likely to be a wind anyway, but I think this will be a way better test.
"I think Galway will be kind of buoyed up. These young lads look like they're ahead of the young lads in a few other counties you know? They're being thrown in but they seem to be able for it."
Daly expects some of Cork's new faces to be properly pushed in tough conditions, adding: "The likes of Dáire O'Leary at full-back, there's been a lot of talk that he should have been there last year and that kind of thing... he was good and solid but he wasn't really tested (against Waterford). On Jason Rabbite tomorrow night he will be tested and we'll see a bit more you know.
"William Buckley, great debut as well, so I liked what we saw with Cork but there was no challenge from Waterford for the first 20 minutes and the game was over. We're going to see a bit more tomorrow night. It's probably the contest of the weekend."
Waterford endured a tough day at the office in Cork and it doesn't get any easier for them as Limerick come to Walsh Park on Sunday. It's the Treaty's first outing in the league, with ex-Tipperary hurler Shane McGrath expecting them to play as if they've a point to prove.
"I really think anyone that's writing off Limerick just doesn't know what they're talking about," he said.
"I think this year Limerick will will look at the league as (a way to) get back on the road, get back playing well, get momentum and see can they get two or three new guys.
"I think they're really going to go at this league, they're going to want to give it a right go.
"Limerick are not playing in the first weekend in the Munster championship as well so they have an extra week even if they get to the league final. Every game they're going to play they're going to give lads a go.
"I'm sure John Kiely will say, 'here's your jersey now, if you play well I'll give it to you, but if you don't play well that guy's going to come in'.
"Limerick are going out every day as strong as they can with their best group that is available and I think they're going to go at every league game and that's why I think Waterford could feel the brunt of that this weekend."
Watch Allianz League Sunday from 9.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
