Tipperary utility man Brendan Maher said during the week that securing bragging rights over Kilkenny is not as important as getting his hands on a league medal.

But if the Premier County's vice-captain is to add a league souvenir to his collection there will be the added incentive of beating the All-Ireland champions in their own backyard.

With the exception of the latter stages of the All-Ireland championship, games don't come any bigger or better than this for both sets of supporters and it is sure to whet the appetite for the championship summer ahead.

Can Tipperary repeat their round 2 success over a Brian Cody-less Kilkenny? Eamon O'Shea's men put the disappointment of their opening round defeat to Cork behind them when skinning the Cats on a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-19 in Semple Stadium.

Kilkenny have home advantage this time around, however, and, in a final, you'd imagine they will prove to be a different proposition altogether.

Besides, since that loss to their arch rivals, the team in black and amber has embarked on a four-game winning sequence.

Both teams have been hit badly with injuries in the run-up to this weekend's encounter.

Tipp corner-back Paddy Stapleton is definitely out after breaking a hand in a club game last weekend but the hosts have bigger concerns in that regard.

Two broken ribs will confine Kilkenny attacking ace Richie Power to the sideline while Walter Walsh (arm) is also unavailable.

Michael Rice's chances of participating are rated as 50/50 due to a groin injury but, on a positive note, Michael Fennelly could feature after missing the last four clash with the Tribesmen.

The performances of Kieran Joyce and Lester Ryan has been a big plus for Kilkenny during this league campaign.

With championship looming over the horizon, neither side will want to give an inch but Tipperary would appear to have more to play for than their opponents.

The manner of last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat still rankles and a Premier County win on Sunday would help restore the supporters' faith in the players.

In Eamon O'Shea, they have a steady hand steering the ship and they are tipped to capitalise on Kilkenny's injury woes.

Verdict: Tipperary

Kilkenny - Eoin Murphy, Paul Murphy, J.J. Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell, Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Kieran Joyce, Lester Ryan, Michael Fennelly, Cillian Buckley, Michael Rice, Eoin Larkin, Colin Fennelly, Richie Hogan, Aidan Fogarty.

Tipperary -Darren Gleeson, Michael Cahill, Conor O'Mahony, Paul Curran, Kieran Bergin, Padraic Maher, Conor O'Brien, Brendan Maher, Shane McGrath, Seamus Callanan, Lar Corbett , Patrick Maher, Shane Bourke, Eoin Kelly, Noel McGrath.

Odds: Kilkenny 8/13, Draw 10/1, Tipperary 6/4

Match Details:Nowlan Park, 3.30pm, Sunday, May 5th.

Paths to the final

Kilkenny

Round 1: Galway 3-11, Kilkenny 0-17
Round 2: Tipperary 2-17, Kilkenny 1-19
Round 3: Kilkenny 2-15, Waterford 0-16
Round 4: Clare 1-15, Kilkenny 3-10
Round 5: Kilkenny 0-20, Cork 2-12
Semi-final: Kilkenny 1-24, Galway 1-17

Tipperary

Round 1: Cork 0-26, Tipperary 1-11
Round 2: Tipperary 2-17, Kilkenny 1-19
Round 3: Galway 1-20, Tipperary 4-22
Round 4: Waterford 1-14, Tipperary 0-16
Round 5: Tipperary 3-19, Clare 1-14
Semi-final: Tipperary 4-20, Dublin 0-17 Tweet

Most Read Stories