Ryan O'Dwyer says there is ferocious competition for places on the Dublin team ahead of Saturday's game against Kilkenny.

"The one thing this year is that new lads are staking a claim," the Tipperary native told The Evening Herald.

"You see Danny Sutcliffe there, he's got such confidence. Ross O'Carroll came on and he was in awesome form. David Treacy is back, Peter Kelly is hurling well and the timing of the injured lads coming back ... But nothing is certain in sport. And we can only look after ourselves.

"I think it's shaping up for a good championship and I think that on the first Sunday in September, we'll be there or thereabouts."

Available again after missing the quarter-final rout of Laois through suspension, O'Dwyer is under no illusions about the task facing Dublin.

"You think of the Kilkenny team and every one of them are household names. They've won more All-Irelands than I'll ever win," he added.

"You see Mick Fennelly when he was in his early 20s, people were saying he's only okay. But you can see what they're after doing with him and what he's after becoming. He's outstanding. Everyone talks about Shefflin and he is a big player for them, but I think the biggest player for them is Fennelly. He's such a big, physical presence and his hurling is immense.

"They're household names but they're the players you don't want to be losing."