Waterford hurling manager Justin McCarthy is poised to drop goalkeeper Stephen Brenner ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final against Cork, and possibly use him out the field as a replacement forward. Brenner hasn't been at his best this summer, with Clare putting four goals past him in the last round of the qualifiers.
Either Clinton Hennessy or Ian O'Regan is expected to be in goal when McCarthy finalises his team tomorrow evening. Hennessy recently returned to the panel after a period in New York, while O'Regan played in last year's semi-final defeat to Kilkenny.
McCarthy, however, hasn't ruled out using Brenner as a substitute to help compensate for the suspended forward Eoin McGrath.
Clare are first up in Sunday's double-bill with their quarter-final against Wexford (2.0). Manager Anthony Daly won't release his line-up until Friday evening, but is unlikely to make any changes from the team that beat Waterford in the last round of the qualifier series.
Forward Barry Nugent is the main injury concern for Daly, and his groin problem is likely to require an operation. David Hoey and Andrew Quinn, late replacements for Colm Forde and David Forde respectively prior to the Waterford match, are likely to hold on to their starting places.
Wexford manager Séamus Murphy will announce his team tomorrow evening.
Tipperary have suffered another setback ahead of their quarter-final with Galway on Sunday week. Forward John Carroll sustained a serious finger injury in a challenge with Wexford on Friday night, and his chances of starting already appear slim.
The burly forward was central to Tipperary's comeback in the Munster final against Cork, scoring 1-1 when appearing as a substitute for Benny Dunne.
Elsewhere, the GAA have confirmed the draw for the fourth and final round of the All-Ireland football qualifiers will take in Croke Park on Sunday after the hurling quarter-finals.
Kildare will begin the search for a new football manager after Padraig Nolan announced last night that he wouldn't be going forward for a fourth year in charge.
