CYRIL FARRELL goes back to one of his old haunts, Wexford Park, next Sunday, this time with his native Galway to take on the reigning All-Ireland champions.

A huge crowd is expected to see the champions in action, and Farrell looks forward to a "warm welcome" from the Wexford followers who were once so hopeful that he would be the one to lead them to victory.

Farrell is not in any way apprehensive about the trip to Wexford. "They are the champions and nobody who loves hurling can begrudge them that, least of all Galway people. They played some great hurling last year, and we know well how it feels to win after a long lay-off," be says.

As for what many Galway followers refer to as his "third coming", he rejects the idea that he waited until he saw the signs of a revival before agreeing to return. He finds the idea amusing: "I hope they are right about our chances of success. I have been involved with under-age teams all through, and many of them have now graduated to the senior side and we are hopeful that they can repeat their under-age successes.

"The fact of the matter is that over the next few months we will be trying out all sorts of combinations before we can put out a squad of 25 or so for the championship. We need to get the right blend of players and we have several players around, or just over, the 20 mark who have the potential to make the top grade at senior level."

A number of the ones he mentions have won their spurs in the maroon jersey already, such as Nigel Shaughnessy and Kevin Broderick, but he also mentions Cathal Moore, Alan Kerins, Ollie Fahy and Rory Gantley, who may emerge as stalwarts of a team for the championship to come.

He sees the league as an opportunity to get "the right blend" for the championship. "We haven't done much so far. Our activity was limited over the winter, but the break over that period has allowed us to look at a number of players in matches at weekends. Now that the evening are getting longer and the weather, hopefully, is improving, we will be getting down to some serious work in Athenry.

"Right now we don't have the Athenry players who have qualified for the All-Ireland club final. Players like Brendan Feeney and Joe Rabbitte are not available, Padraig Kelly has a bad thumb, Conor Donovan is also out.

"We don't really know how the new league format will work out, but I think it is suitable to the kind of hurling we will be playing on firm grounds in good weather. We will have to see how things unfold," he says.

Farrell led Galway to stirring victories in 1980, 1987 and 1988. Important figures during that era were Brendan Lynskey and P.J. Molloy. They are now his fellow selectors, which seems to be an indication that a similar style to that used in the glory days will be adopted based on strength down the middle of the field and a mobile, constructive half back line, with speed along the wings.

It is far too-early, he says, to predict what lies ahead. "We have a lot to do, but I am confident that we have the players to do it."

After some troubled times in the Galway camp, he rejects the idea that some of the old antagonisms persist. "That is all behind us. Anyway, players don't pay much attention to what goes on at board level, they are too busy playing.

"What we have to do now is to build on what has been achieved at under-age level. We have produced good minor and under-21 teams so that we know the hurlers are there. Galway hurling followers demand success at the highest level and there is a terrific buzz around the county at the moment as Athenry prepare for the All-Ireland club final.

"If we can get that enthusiasm to rub off on the county side within the next few months, we will have made a good start and be in good condition for the championship. That will always be the main focus of our attention. But we believe that the league is very important also and the next few months could help to shape the future of Galway hurling," he says.

It would be difficult to imagine anyone more qualified than Cyril Farrell to restore Galway to the top of the hurling heap. Hurling fans all over the country believe that the men from the west will be very hard to beat this year. With Farrell at the helm, the ship is certainly on the right course.