ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE:TIPPERARY COULD be a little closer to championship strength when they take on Waterford in Thurles on Saturday evening, but still looking for their first win in the Allianz Hurling League, their confidence might need some rebuilding yet.

The 2010 hurler of the year, Lar Corbett, returned to training this week and appears to have recovered from the foot injury that ruled him out of Tipperary’s opening two games – the defeats to Kilkenny and then Dublin. Saturday’s game, however, may still be a little too soon for Corbett.

Defender Conor O’Mahony is more likely to feature, having missed the Dublin game through illness.

Manager Declan Ryan is still short several more first-choice players, but then so too are Waterford, the reigning Munster champions, who have one win (against Wexford) and one draw (against Dublin) so far.

Dublin are thus likewise positioned, and manager Anthony Daly brings his team to Tullamore on Sunday knowing a win over Offaly would further boost their prospects of making the league final: last Sunday’s Walsh Cup final win over Kilkenny means Dublin are now unbeaten this season.

Daly took added satisfaction from the fact Dublin beat Kilkenny without the services of Conal Keaney, Tomás Brady and Joey Boland – who were all withdrawn on mostly precautionary grounds.

Keaney, who hit a total of 0-24 against Waterford and Tipperary, had a minor leg injury, as did Brady, while Boland was a late withdrawal due to illness.

All three are now expected to feature on Sunday, with Daly naming his team after training tomorrow.

The Dublin manager won’t need reminding that Offaly were convincing winners in the corresponding fixture last year, and host Dublin knowing they badly need two points to lessen the relegation pressures, having lost to Galway and Cork in their opening ties.

Offaly manager Joe Dooley can call on his son and captain, Shane, for Sunday’s game, despite his being sent off during the University of Limerick’s Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final victory over Cork IT last Friday.

Dooley subsequently missed his side’s final win over Limerick IT, although the automatic four-week suspension only applies to games in the same grade, in this case third level, so he’s free to line out on Sunday – a welcome boost for his father, given he hit 2-10 in last year’s victory over Dublin.

Finally, defending champions Galway look set to be without forward Joe Canning for the remainder of their league campaign.

Galway have scored a total of 2-48 against Wexford and Offaly so far, and are looking for a third win on the trot against Cork, but Canning is still hampered by a foot injury that is likely to keep him sidelined until at least the end of March.