Eoin Larkin will be confined to the role of spectator for "five or six weeks, could be longer".

The seven-time All-Ireland winner underwent surgery on his groin last week and, ppeaking to The Herald, he admitted: "It will be frustrating.

"It wouldn't be one of my strong points sitting down and having to watch things. I'll just have to get on with it, be there for the lads. If they need any advice, I'll give it."

The Noresiders squad will be stretched to its limits for this weekend's league opener against Cork as 13 of the panel that won last year's All-Ireland title will be absent due to a combination of retirements, injuries and club commitments.

"When you see the amount of lads that are out - 13 of the lads from the All-Ireland have been mentioned - I think transition could be a word that's used.

"It's unbelievable. I don't think it's happened before. We've always had 10, 12 players from the All-Ireland for the first round of the league."

He stressed, however, that the Cats won't be using that as an excuse and will be going all out to retain their league title.

"We obviously want to win it (the league). We won't be going out with any more ambitions than go out and try and win all our games, get to a league final and then to win it. That's the way we approach every year. It won't matter who's playing, we'll have 15 lads with Kilkenny jerseys.

"We've had retirements before and just got on with things. We've a couple of new lads in - it's up to them to step up to the plate as much as the older lads. We still have a very good panel there. We'll be hoping for good things this year."

Asked if he thought Henry Shefflin might follow the example of JJ Delaney, Tommy Walsh and Brian Hogan and ride off into the sunset, Larkin replied: "I didn't think the other lads would go, so I don't think Henry will either.

"I've only been on one holiday with Henry so there wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary there either (that he didn't go this time).

"I've asked the Ballyhale lads as well and they said he hasn't spoken to them either.

"So your guess is as good as mine."

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