Former Offaly hurler Brian Carroll believes Cork's physicality will give them the edge over Tipperary this weekend as two hurling powers meet in the Allianz Hurling League.
In what is a rematch of last season’s All-Ireland final, champions Tipp travel to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for an early test of their title credentials against a Cork team that will be out for revenge.
The Rebels will be aiming to go one better than beaten All-Ireland finalists this term as they look to end a two-decade wait to bring Liam MacCarthy back to the banks of Lee and Carroll feels that they’ll lay down an early marker on Saturday evening.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, the Offaly Under-20 boss said: "I think the way Cork have set up so far, we've seen them go hard at it and they've picked a very strong team in both their opening games.
"They've experimented a little bit particularly around the number three position with Darragh O'Leary and they've brought Tommy O'Connell into midfield and both those players are tough as teak."
Carroll believes that the physicality the likes of O’Leary and O’Connell bring is in keeping with manager Ben O'Connor’s style and that the Cork boss is targeting this game as a must-win.
"Ben O'Connor has, not only last week but over the last number of years, talked about the need for physicality in hurling," he said.
"Any team he's been over, including the Cork U20s a couple of years ago when they won the All-Ireland, they were tough and uncompromising and I don't think Cork will kind of take on this game in any other fashion.
"I think the need is greater for Cork to win this game.
"Tipperary are All-Ireland champions, they're the ones that have climbed Mount Everest and they've won the U20 as well. They're still experimenting a little bit and I think Cork at home probably need to win this a little bit more."
The weekend’s other big clash sees Limerick welcome Kilkenny to the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday afternoon.
Limerick suffered a surprise defeat to Waterford last weekend, while the Cats saw off the challenge of Offaly at Nowlan Park.
John Kiely’s side sat out the opening weekend, so the clash with the Déise was their opening game of the campaign and Carroll feels that they need to win in front of their own fans on Sunday, to head off any talk of a crisis for the Treaty County.
"That was a massive setback to be fair. You know, they've lost the last four games, the last three games in Championship last year and the opening round of the National Hurling League.
"While we’re certainly used to seeing Limerick being top of the pile, it's a struggle for them at the moment.
"They’re trying to find that balance between the more experienced players, the men that have brought all that great glory to Limerick over the last number of years and blooding in these younger players. So it's still a challenge for John Kiely.
"He needs to get back to winning ways and being at home against Kilkenny is certainly a round that they can target to try and get two points on the board."
Watch Cork v Tipperary in the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
