Kyle Hayes is the standout option available to Limerick manager John Kiely for the centre-back position, according to former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy.
Hayes, who played the majority of last year's championship in the pivotal position, continues to recover from a neck injury picked up on club duty last August.
The Kildimo-Pallaskenry player, who has excelled for the Treaty men in attack and at wing-back, is seen by some as the natural heir to decorated captain Declan Hannon, who brought the curtain down on his Limerick career last winter.
However there is a school of thought that Hayes’ natural attacking instincts could be better served away from the six jersey, with Cathal O'Neill and Will O’Donoghue, who has operated primarily in midfield for Kiely, stepping into the centre-back position during the league.
"Exceptional" was former Tipperary player Shane McGrath's assessment of O'Donoghue's display in the seven-point win over Kilkenny, but Sheedy believes that a deeper-lying no 6 in the mould of O’Donoghue could lead to opposition deploying a deep-lying centre-forward in response, something Kilkenny’s Eoin Cody managed to good effect last time out.
"There will be no debate, for me anyway," Sheedy said on the RTÉ GAA podcast when asked who should start in the heart of the defence when everyone is fit and available.
"It’s his ability to cover and get back when they are under pressure," he said, adding that Hayes is the "next best thing" to the departed Hannon.
"I think there are loads of jobs for 'Will the destroyer’ to be operating around the middle third. He gets through a lot of work."
Despite losing to the Treaty County by seven points last time out, Kilkenny's tactical approach against Limerick could be replicated by others to exploit the opportunity presented by a deep-lying centre-back.
"I think centre-back is being targeted by other teams," Sheedy continued.
"Against Kilkenny, Eoin Cody got on a lot of ball and hurt Limerick from that deep 11 position. It will be interesting to see how that plays out with teams.
"A lot of teams like to have a sitting six, but if you face a deep (lying) 11, they can get on a lot of ball and hurt you."
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