You look at Kilkenny and realise that they’ve lost about one-third of the panel that won the All-Ireland last year and it has left them vulnerable.

Even before the speculation surrounding Richie Hogan's fitness, it has been known that Jackie Tyrrell would miss tomorrow's semi-final and Richie Power, who was key to winning last year's All-Ireland, hasn't lined out so far this year.

It's still very hard to call against them given their experience and talent but despite a very good Leinster final I'm wary, as I think they're a bit low on supplies heading into the mountains. Hogan's availability is vital. He is the hurler of the year and the day someone can close down him and TJ Reid will spell trouble. So far no one's come close to it, yet if it happened it's hard to see where the inspiration would come from.

Ger Aylward has been vital in adding a fresh spark with his goal instinct. The direct running of him and Colin Fennelly has opened up a lot of goal chances, which were taken against Wexford but not against Galway. But ultimately it's still the Reid and Hogan show.

I’d probably detail man markers to follow them everywhere but it would be a big job, especially on Hogan, who operates all around the pitch.

Reid was my man of the match in the Leinster final and is the most dangerous player in the game but Richie Hogan did unbelievable damage around the middle of the field in the second half when the match was in the balance, winning dirty ball.

He’s so compact and low to the ground and he’s a great tackler, which he doesn’t often get great credit for – able to snap in and get a touch on the ball. It’s very hard to get possession when he’s around.

On a general note I thought Kilkenny dealt really well with Galway’s physicality and that form looks even better after Galway’s demolition of Cork.

Waterford use different tools and at their best are capable of presenting Kilkenny with a totally different challenge to the Leinster final.

Donie Nealon used to talk about "playing with abandon" and Waterford have to do that if they are ambitious. They need to play with that sense of adventure and lose the apprehension of the Munster final and the anxieties of the All-Ireland quarter-final. Galway found it hard to create space against Kilkenny and ended up replacing Cathal Mannion and David Burke and reverting to the long ball into Joe Canning so it won't be easily done.

Kilkenny are the only team left that haven't played Waterford this year and Tipperary showed the usefulness of their league semi-final rehearsal when they met again in the Munster final.

Withdrawn forwards

Last year, even though they must have known what to expect, Kilkenny struggled to cope with Tipperary’s movement in the drawn All-Ireland final before they figured it out in the replay, and they will be anxious to come to terms more quickly with Waterford’s tactics with their sweeper, withdrawn forwards and isolated attack.

In the quarter-final Dublin's physicality posed problems for Waterford, as did the decision to push Ryan O'Dwyer up on Tadhg de Búrca, the spare man in the defence. It worked for a while, causing confusion but Waterford's energy levels were a lot better in the second half and their link players – Kevin Moran, Jamie Barron, Jake Dillon, Austin Gleeson and Colin Dunford – got motoring. Waterford will have to use the ball better in Croke Park. Moran, Dunford and Barron can't go on aimless solo runs. They must protect the ball better and use it smartly.

Maurice Shanahan has been key for Waterford. He has had to be the lone attacker, which means holding up possession, which he has done superbly.

I'd say Joey Holden will be given the job of marking him. He's had a good championship in his first season at full back and has done everything so far on two highly rated full forwards, Conor McDonald and Joe Canning.

In fact, Shanahan’s roving game may suit Holden, who matches up well in terms of height and reach, rather than playing all day on the edge of the square. Sometimes he’s attacked the high ball when he shouldn’t but being dragged 50 or 60 metres away from goal won’t bother him.

Destabilise

One caveat though is that Holden's had two very experienced minders in the corners in Paul Murphy and Tyrrell. Now there'll be two players with little championship experience of the full-back line and that can destabilise things.

I have high hopes for Waterford; they’ve been the brightest light in a poor season that has yet to take off but the future is uncertain for everyone. Who’s to say they’ll get any better chance of winning an All-Ireland than this year? They need to attack this opportunity.

Overall, I think a lack of goals will be their undoing, whereas with Reid and Hogan running things Kilkenny will get theirs. They were unlucky not to get more against Galway and scored a hatful against Wexford. Waterford’s scores don’t come as easily and that will be the difference.