Kilmallock manager Ger 'Sparrow' O'Loughlin admits Ballyhale's greater familiarity with Croke Park is a worry.
Whereas the Limerick and Munster champions haven't graced GAA headquarters since losing the 1993 All-Ireland club SFC final to Sarsfields of Galway, Ballyhale have played there three times since 2007, while many of their players have also played at Croker numerous times with Kilkenny.
"It's not the ideal situation," the former Clare star said in the Irish Daily Mirror.
"We are expected to go up there on the 17th and perform to the best of our ability and yet it's disappointing that you can't get a run out on the pitch.
"What we were offered was a date for 20 minutes to go out for a puck about or something like that. But it's a long journey up from Limerick to go out on the field for 20 minutes, so it was never going to work out.
"Look, it probably is a disadvantage and Ballyhale certainly have plenty of experience with all the lads they have involved that are regularly playing there. It's not ideal, but we won't use it as an excuse."
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