Dublin are set to field their strongest possible team for Saturday's National League meeting with Roscommon at Parnell Park. Manager Tom Carr welcomes back a number of his regular panel and will include as many as possible when the team is announced tomorrow evening.
Full back Paddy Christie has made a surprisingly quick recovery from a groin injury and started last weekend's challenge victory over Fermanagh. Carr will also have Dessie Farrell and Ian Robertson back in service, while Wayne McCarthy and Colin Moran displayed impressive form for the under-21 side last Sunday.
Definitely out is Paul Curran, who has work commitments in South Africa. Brian Stynes and Jim Gavin are out through injury.
The Dublin senior hurling management team was completed yesterday with the announcement of Kevin Fennelly's three selectors - Canice Hennebry, Mick O'Riordan and Jim Galavan.
Galavan, like Fennelly, has Kilkenny roots but has spent the last two decades in a range of playing and management positions at Ballyboden St Enda's.
Hennebry is best known from his playing days with the Dublin team but more recently has managed the senior hurling team at his club, Crumlin. O'Riordan is also a former intercounty player with Dublin and has learnt his management skills with St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh.
After last weekend's bye, the Dublin hurlers start their National League campaign on Sunday with a trip to Navan to face Meath. Definitely out of the team is David Sweeney, who is suffering from ankle ligament injuries, but it remains to be seen if Fennelly can successfully tempt Liam Walsh into returning to the team.
Declan Ruth has been handed the full-back position in the Wexford team to face Waterford due to the enforced absence of Rod Guiney. Although a red card has ruled Guiney out of contention after last Sunday's defeat of Laois, the Rathnure defender is likely to be out of the game for some time in any case with an eye injury.
Ruth's left half-back position goes to Mitch Jordan in an otherwise unchanged team.
Kilkenny have included 10 of their All-Ireland final team for Sunday's clash with Laois at Nowlan Park. All Star Andy Comerford and his midfield partner Brian McEvoy are still unavailable to the All-Ireland champions after undergoing surgery. John Power has decided to take an extended break and All-Ireland captain Willie O'Connor may not be seen in the county colours again.
The only player being rested is Denis Byrne from champions Graigue-Ballycallan, who is nursing an ankle injury. The strong selection includes newcomer Jimmy Coogan of Tullaroan at wing forward. DJ Carey has been selected at midfield.
WEXFORD (SH v Waterford): D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, D Ruth, D Guiney; L Dunne, D Ryan, M Jordan; A Fenlon, R Stafford; R McCarthy, M Byrne, M Jacob; C McGrath, L O'Gorman, B Goff.
KILKENNY (SH v Laois): J McGarry; J Butler, N Hickey, M Kavanagh; P Larkin, E Kennedy, P Barry; C Brennan, DJ Carey; J Coogan, J Hoyne, S Grehan; C Carter, H Shefflin, E Brennan.
