Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made three changes to his starting 15 and the inclusion of Aidan Ryan at full-back has raised plenty of eyebrows.

Despite not having featured at all to date in the league, the Midleton clubman has been handed the number three jersey at the expense of Damien Cahalane.

Elsewhere, Mark Ellis and Cormac Murphy are both fit return to the half-back line with William Kearney and Luke O'Farrell dropped to he bench.

The Rebels enjoyed a 0-28 to 0-14 Munster quarter-final victory over the Deise when these two counties last met and, whatever happens tomorrow, the neighbours will renew acquaintances in the Munster SHC semi-final on June 7th in Thurles.

"These chances don't come around too often and we'd certainly love to win it," stressed JBM has he played down suggestions that both teams will be playing their cards close to their chest ahead of their championship opener.

"None of the players in our dressingroom have won a league medal, and, following our success in the Munster championship last year, it would be another step forward in terms of getting used to winning on big days, which is very important."

The Deise, meanwhile, are eager to get their hands on league title number three: "It's not a case of us being able to park the league final and say that we only had our eye on the championship," manager Derek McGrath insisted.

"That's what bigger counties do traditionally. Our league final is everything to us."

Verdict - Cork.

Cork team: Anthony Nash; Shane O'Neill, Aidan Ryan, Stephen McDonnell; Lorcán McLoughlin, Mark Ellis, Cormac Murphy; Daniel Kearney, Aidan Walsh; Bill Cooper, Seamus Harnedy, Rob O'Shea; Alan Cadogan, Conor Lehane, Patrick Horgan.

Waterford team: tba.

Match details: Sunday, Semple Stadium, 3.30pm, extra-time playable.

Referee: Johnny Ryan.

Odds: Cork 8/15, Draw 9/1, Waterford 15/8.

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